“Nay, nay, Dinah, not exactly so far as that--” “And why not? Was it not less than a fortnight ago three Birmingham men crossed the threshold, calling out for old Peter,--was old Peter to the good yet?” “They were a little elevated with wine, sister, remember that; and, besides, they never knew, never had heard of me in my once condition.” “And are we so changed that they cannot recognize the class we pertain to?” “Not _you_, Dinah, certainly not you; but I frankly own I can put up with rudeness and incivility better than a certain showy courtesy some vulgar people practise towards me. In the one case I feel I am not known, and my secret is safe. In the other, I have to stand out as the ruined gentleman, and I am not always sure that I play the part as gracefully as I ought.” “Let us leave emotions, Peter, and descend to the lowland of arithmetic, by giving up two boatmen, John and Terry--” “Poor Terry!” sighed he, with a faint, low accent “Oh! if it be 'poor Terry!' I 've done,” said she, closing the book, and throwing it down with a slap that made him start. “Nay, dear Dinah; but if we could manage to let him have something,--say five shillings a week,--he 'd not need it long; and the port wine that was doing his rheumatism such good is nearly finished; he'll miss it sorely.” “Were you giving him Henderson's wine,--the '11 vintage?” cried she, pale with indignation. “Just a bottle or two, Dinah; only as medicine.” “As a fiddlestick, sir! I declare I have no patience with you; there 's no excuse for such folly, not to say the ignorance of giving these creatures what they never were used to. Did not Dr. Dill tell you that tonics, to be effective, must always have some relation to the daily habits of the patient?” “Very true, Dinah; but the discourse was pronounced when I saw him putting a bottle of old Madeira in his gig that I had left for Anne M'Cafferty, adding, he 'd send her something far more strengthening.” “Right or wrong, I don't care; but this I know, Terry Dogherty is n't going to finish off Henderson's port. It is rather too much to stand, that we are to be treating beggars to luxuries, when we can't say to-morrow where we shall find salt for our potatoes.” This was a somewhat favorite illustration of Miss Barrington,--either implying that the commodity was an essential to human life, or the use of it an emblem of extreme destitution. “I conclude we may dispense with Tom Divett's services,” resumed she. “We can assuredly get on without a professional rat-catcher.” “If we should, Dinah, we'll feel the loss; the rats make sad havoc of the spawn, and destroy quantities of the young fish, besides.” “His two ugly terriers eat just as many chickens, and never leave us an egg in the place. And now for Mr. Darby--” “You surely don't think of parting with Darby, sister Dinah?”