_Stept._ Now you're too severe, Miss STICKLER, you are indeed. An innocent little Judy Mow like that! _Tredwell (outside)._ Don't answer _me_, Sir. Ham I butler 'ere, or ham I _not_? I've a precious good mind to report you for such a hignorant blunder.... I don't want to hear another word about the gentleman's cloes--you'd no hearthly business for to do such a thing at all! (_He enters and flings himself down on a chair._) That THOMAS is beyond everything--stoopid _hass_ as he is! _Mrs. Pomfr. (concerned)._ La, Mr. TREDWELL, you _do_ seem put out! Whatever have THOMAS been doing _now_? _Und. (to himself)._ It's really very good of him to take it to heart like this! (_Aloud._) Pray don't let it distress you; it's of no consequence, none at all! _Tred. (glaring)._ I'm the best judge of that, Mr. UNDERSHELL, Sir--if you'll allow _me_; _I_ don't call my porogatives of no consequence, whatever _you_ may! And that feller THOMAS, Mrs. POMFRET, actially 'ad the hordacity, without consulting me previous, to go and 'and a note to one of our gentlemen at the hupstairs table, all about some hassinine mistake he'd made with his cloes! What call had he to take it upon himself? I feel puffecly disgraced that such a thing should have occurred under my authority! [_The_ Steward's Room Boy _has entered with a dish, and listens with secret anxiety on his own account_. _Und._ I assure you there is no harm done. The gentleman is wearing my evening clothes--but he's going to return them---- [_The conclusion of the sentence is drowned in a roar of laughter from the majority._ _Tred. (gasping)._ Hevenin' cloes! _Your_ hevenin'---- P'raps you'll 'ave the goodness to explain yourself, Sir! _Stept._ No, no, TREDWELL, my dear fellah, you don't understand our friend here--he's a bit of a wag, don't you see? He's only trying to pull your leg, that's all: and, Gad, he did it too! But you mustn't take liberties with _this_ gentleman, Mr. UNDERSHELL, he's an important personage _here_, I can tell you! _Und. (earnestly)._ But I never meant--if you'll only let me explain---- [_The_ Boy _has come behind him, and administers a surreptitious kick, which_ UNDERSHELL _rightly construes as a hint to hold his tongue._ _Tred. (in solemn offence)._ I'm accustomed, Mr. HUNDERSHELL, to be treated in this room with respect and deference--especially by them as come here in the capacity of Guests. _From_ such I regard any attempt to pull my leg as in hindifferent taste--to say the least of it. I wish to 'ave no more words on the subjick, which is a painful one, and had better be dropped, for the sake of all parties. Mrs. POMFRET, I see supper is on the table, so, by your leave, we had better set down to it. _Phill._ (_to_ UNDERSHELL). Never mind _him_, pompous old thing! It _was_ awfully cheeky of you, though. You can sit next _me_ if you like.