'Does not Crona know anything about it?' 'Twixt you an' me an the dooroocoolie, Mr Lee, an' you needn't let it go no furder, I think that it was Crona 'erself that sent Miss Lotty away to live with a great-grandaunt of hers.' 'Great-grandaunt of whom, you fool?' 'Why, Crona's as ever was!' 'Don't stand there and cheek me, or I'll break every bone in your ugly carcass.' 'An' that ain't callin' me my lord, is it, sir?' 'Go and find her, I tell you. Find her, find her. Can't you see I'm a ruined man if she returns not, and the show is ruined?' 'Not much it ain't, boss. You still has me, as Micawber's wife said to 'im. An' you has Bruin an' the Living Skeleting.' 'Go and find Lot, I tell you. You are in the plot. I feel sure you are.' 'Do you now?' 'You--you--you'---- Biffins couldn't find a word strong enough to fling at the fat boy. 'Suppose,' said Chops, with provoking coolness, 'that I says I sha'n't. An' suppose I sings like this 'ere: For though I am your wedded wife, Yet I am not your slave, sir.' Biffins Lee had a huge iron paper-weight in his hand, and this he launched at Chops's head with all his force. Had it struck the boy he never would have breathed again. But he ducked in time, and the weight shivered a huge flower-pot--a property. Chops picked up the paper-weight. 'Now, listen, boss. I gives you warnin'. I'm hoff, an' I takes this 'ere triflin' _memento mori_ with me. An' if ye hattempts to foller'---- Chops balanced the terrible paper-weight on his palm by way of emphasising his words. 'Good-bye, Biffins Lee. Think of me w'en far away. No more at present from your confectionate friend an' lovier trew, Chops, 'is mark. W'ich I is hever a-thinkin' on you, Bill.' And Chops marched straight away and never once looked back. Biffins threw himself back in his chair. 'Ruined! ruined!' he cried. 'Lotty, my infant prodigy and violinist, gone! And now Chops my merman!' The very next morning the _Belhivey Chronicle_ came out with a long article headed: CENTER 'THE QUEEREST SHOW ON EARTH. MERMAN BUBBLE BURST.' It commenced by describing what is still known as Mermaid Bay, entirely surrounded on three sides by tall, perpendicular rocks on which not even a seamew could find footing. Then it went on to say: 'It will be in the recollection of our worthy fishermen readers that it was here where the mermaid and merman appeared to many people. It was at the time impossible not to believe that these were real denizens of the deep, human though their faces and arms and shoulders were. They appeared suddenly, and as quickly dived and were seen no more.