"And what do you call these little fellows, ma'am?" said he in his pleasant voice. "Have they any names?"
"I can answer for Miss Flite that they have," said I, "for she promised to tell us what they were. Ada remembers?"
Ada remembered very well.
"Did I?" said Miss Flite.—"Who's that at my door? What are you listening at my door for, Krook?"
The old man of the house, pushing it open before him, appeared there with his fur-cap in his hand, and his cat at his heels.
"I warn't listening, Miss Flite," he said. "I was going to give a rap with my knuckles, only you're so quick!"
"Make your cat go down. Drive her away!" the old lady angrily exclaimed.
"Bah, bah!—There ain't no danger, gentle-folks," said Mr. Krook, looking slowly and sharply from one to another, until he had looked at all of us; "she'd never offer at the birds when I was here, unless I told her to do it."
"You will excuse my landlord," said the old lady with a dignified air. "M, quite M! What do you want, Krook, when I have company?"
"Hi!" said the old man. "You know I am the Chancellor."