"Well, Max always was a hard one, certainly, my dear. Ever since we were boys together, `Merry, merry boys--since we were boys together,'" he sang. Then, descending once more to everyday-life conversation, he went on, "He was a hard one, Max was; and as to money, he'd always have a penny or twopence when I had none, even if he borrowed it of me." "And never paid it again," said his wife contemptuously. "Well, it was a way he had," said Dick. "I haven't patience with him." "No, my dear, you never did have patience with Max. Clever chap too. Marries his widow with lots of tin and a pair of boots--boys I mean-- ready made. Why didn't I?" "Ah! why indeed?" said Mrs Shingle sharply. "Because I was a fool," said Dick, smiling pleasantly. "Fools are best off too, mother. I say, fancy me with a wife like Max's!" The idea seemed to please Dick so that he laughed and wiped one eye. "There are worse women than Mrs Max," said Mrs Shingle. "Yes, and there's better ones than you, I suppose, mother. But I'm contented, and never wanted a divorce yet." "Dick, how can you talk so before that boy?" "All right! but I say, mother--Here, go on with your work, you young rascal. Keeping your ears staring wide open like that!" "Please, master, I couldn't help hearing," said the boy dolefully. "I'm a-learning my trade, and trying to obey my pastors and masters as hard as ever I can." "Now, lookye here," said Dick, taking up his hammer and gazing threateningly at the boy, "I never have given it to you yet, John Johnson, or, as I familiarly call you, from where you came and the stripes you had on you when you came, Union Jack--" "No, master," whined the boy, "you've been very kind indeed to me." "I have, you hungry young alligator," said Dick. "So look here, I won't have it; I'm as bad as Mr Hopper that way,--I hate people to preach and sling catechism at me so don't you do it again." "No, master; please, I'll try very hard indeed, and obey you, as it is my dooty to." "Will you leave off?" roared Dick, striking his bench with the hammer, so that the tools and nails jumped almost as much as the boy. "You're at it again, talking in that canting, whining, tread-underfoot, workhouse style; and I won't have it. What did I tell you you was?" "A free-born Briton, please, master." "Then why don't you act as such, and say `Yes, sir,' and `No, sir,' outright and down straight?--not whine and grovel like a worm without any sting in his tail." "Please, master, I'll try and order myself lowly and reverently to all my betters." "Now, just hark at him!" cried Dick to his wife. "Please, master, I'm very--" "Ah!" shouted Dick. "All right, master," said the boy; and he bent to his work. "I say, mother;" said Dick, "Max is a bit put out with us." "So it seems," said Mrs Shingle, biting her silk and stitching away. "I think he'd be glad if we starved to death."