" 'Cause I don't, I can tell you; reason good. They are as stingy as they can live. Their way is to get as much as they can out of other folks, and let other folks get as little as they can out of them. I know 'em. Just watch that purple frock when it comes to the eating. There's Mr. Bob." "Mr. who?" "Bob — Bob Lawson. He's a precious small young man, for such a big one. There — go take his hat. Miss Fortune," said Nancy, coming forward, "mayn't the gentlemen take care of their own things in the stoop, or must the young ladies wait upon them, too? t'other room won't hold everything neither." This speech raised a general laugh, in the midst of which Mr. Bob carried his own hat and cloak into the shed, as desired. Before Nancy had done chuckling came another arrival — a tall, lank gentleman, with one of those unhappy-shaped faces that are very broad at the eyes and very narrow across the chops, and having a particularly grave and dull expression. He was welcomed with such a shout of mingled laughter, greeting, and jesting, that the room was in a complete hurly-burly; and a plain-looking, stout, elderly lady, who had come in just behind him, was suffered to stand unnoticed. "It's Miss Janet," whispered Nancy — "Mr. Marshchalk's aunt. Nobody wants to see her here; she's one of your pious kind, and that's a kind your aunt don't take to." Instantly Ellen was at her side, offering gently to relieve her of hood and cloak, and with a tap on his arm drawing Mr. Van Brunt's attention to the neglected person. Quite touched by the respectful politeness of her manner, the old lady inquired of Miss Fortune, as Ellen went off with a load of mufflers, "who was that sweet little thing?" "It's a kind of sweetmeats that is kept for company, Miss Janet," replied Miss Fortune, with a darkened brow. "She's too good for everyday use, that's a fact," remarked Mr. Van Brunt. Miss Fortune coloured and tossed her head, and the company were for a moment still with surprise. Another arrival set them agoing again. "Here come the Hitchcocks, Ellen," said Nancy. "Walk in, Miss Mary — walk in, Miss Jenny — Mr. Marshchalk has been here this great while." Miss Mary Hitchcock was in nothing remarkable. Miss Jenny, when her wrappers were taken off, showed a neat, little, round figure, and a round face of very bright and good-humoured expression. It fastened Ellen's eye, till Nancy whispered her to look at Mr. Juniper Hitchcock, and that young gentleman entered, dressed in the last style of elegance. His hair was arranged in a faultless manner — unless, perhaps, it had a _little_ too much of the tallow-candle; for when he had sat for a while before the fire, it had somewhat the look of being excessively wet with perspiration. His boots were as shiny as his hair; his waistcoat was of a startling pattern; his pantaloons were very tightly strapped down; and at the end of a showy watch-riband hung some showy seals.