Mrs. Mumpson indulged in lofty and aggrieved remarks throughout the meal and then returned to her rocker. At last, her indignant sense of wrong reached such a point that she commanded Jane to clear the table and put away the things. "I won't," said the child. "What! Will you compel me to chastise you?" "Well, then, I'll tell him it was all your doin's." "I shall tell him so myself. I shall remonstrate with him. The idea of his coming home alone at this time of night with an unknown female!" "One would think you was his aunt, to hear you talk," remarked the girl sullenly. "I am a respecterble woman and most respecterbly connected. My character and antercedents render me irrerproachful.--This could not be said of a hussy, and a hussy he'll probably bring--some flighty, immerture female that will tax even MY patience to train." Another hour passed, and the frown on Mrs. Mumpson's brow grew positively awful. "To think," she muttered, "that a man whom I have deemed it my duty to marry should stay out so and under such peculiar circumstances. He must have a lesson which he can never forget." Then aloud, to Jane, "Kindle a fire on the parlor hearth and let this fire go out. He must find us in the most respecterble room in the house--a room befitting my station." "I declare, mother, you aint got no sense at all!" exclaimed the child, exasperated beyond measure. "I'll teach you to use such unrerspectful language!" cried Mrs. Mumpson, darting from her chair like a hawk and pouncing upon the unhappy child. With ears tingling from a cuffing she could not soon forget, Jane lighted the parlor fire and sat down sniffling in the farthest corner. "There shall be only one mistress in this house," said Mrs. Mumpson, who had now reached the loftiest plane of virtuous indignation, "and its master shall learn that his practices reflect upon even me as well as himself." At last the sound of horses' feet were heard on the wet, oozy ground without. The irate widow did not rise, but merely indicated her knowledge of Holcroft's arrival by rocking more rapidly. "Hello, there, Jane!" he shouted, "bring a light to the kitchen." "Jane, remain!" said Mrs. Mumpson, with an awful look. Holcroft stumbled through the dark kitchen to the parlor door and looked with surprise at the group before him,--Mrs. Mumpson apparently oblivious and rocking as if the chair was possessed, and the child crying in a corner. "Jane, didn't you hear me call for a light?" he asked a little sharply. Mrs. Mumpson rose with great dignity and began, "Mr. Holcroft, I wish to remonstrate--" "Oh, bother! I've brought a woman to help you, and we're both wet through from this driving rain." "You've brought a strange female at this time of--" Holcroft's patience gave say, but he only said quietly, "You had better have a light in the kitchen within two minutes. I warn you both. I also wish some hot coffee."