“Get off 'ome,” responded Mr. Grummit, glowering at him. “There's a crowd outside, and half the doors in the place open,” said the other. “Well, it's a good job there's no harm done. So long.” He passed, beaming, down the stairs, and Mr. Grummit, drawing near the window, heard him explaining in a broken voice to the neighbours outside. Strong men patted him on the back and urged him gruffly to say what he had to say and laugh afterwards. Mr. Grummit turned from the window, and in a slow and stately fashion prepared to retire for the night. Even the sudden and startling disappearance of Mrs. Grummit as she got into bed failed to move him. “The bed's broke, Bob,” she said faintly. “Beds won't last for ever,” he said, shortly; “sleep on the floor.” Mrs. Grummit clambered out, and after some trouble secured the bedclothes and made up a bed in a corner of the room. In a short time she was fast asleep; but her husband, broad awake, spent the night in devising further impracticable schemes for the discomfiture of the foe next door. He saw Mr. Evans next morning as he passed on his way to work. The constable was at the door smoking in his shirt-sleeves, and Mr. Grummit felt instinctively that he was waiting there to see him pass. “I heard you last night,” said the constable, playfully. “My word! Good gracious!” “Wot's the matter with you?” demanded Mr. Grummit, stopping short. The constable stared at him. “She has been knocking you about,” he gasped. “Why, it must ha' been _you_ screaming, then! I thought it sounded loud. Why don't you go and get a summons and have her locked up? I should be pleased to take her.” Mr. Grummit faced him, quivering with passion. “Wot would it cost if I set about you?” he demanded, huskily. “Two months,” said Mr. Evans, smiling serenely; “p'r'aps three.” Mr. Grummit hesitated and his fists clenched nervously. The constable, lounging against his door-post, surveyed him with a dispassionate smile. “That would be besides what you'd get from me,” he said, softly. “Come out in the road,” said Mr. Grummit, with sudden violence. “It's agin the rules,” said Mr. Evans; “sorry I can't. Why not go and ask your wife's brother to oblige you?” He went in laughing and closed the door, and Mr. Grummit, after a frenzied outburst, proceeded on his way, returning the smiles of such acquaintances as he passed with an icy stare or a strongly-worded offer to make them laugh the other side of their face. The rest of the day he spent in working so hard that he had no time to reply to the anxious inquiries of his fellow-workmen.