“There is some mistake, I presume,” said Mrs. Scragg, on perceiving a lady in the room, whose manner said plainly enough that they were out of their place.

“Oh no! no mistake at all,” replied Scragg.  “These are the two rooms I engaged.”

Just then Mrs. Darlington entered, in manifest excitement.

“Walk down into the parlor, if you please,” said she.

“These are our rooms,” said Scragg, showing no inclination to vacate the premises.

“Be kind enough to walk down into the parlor,” repeated Mrs. Darlington, whose sense of propriety was outraged by the man’s conduct, and who felt a corresponding degree of indignation.

With some show of reluctance, this invitation was acceded to, and Mr. Scragg went muttering down stairs, followed by his brood.  The moment he left the chamber, the door was shut and locked by Mrs. Ring, who was a good deal frightened by so unexpected an intrusion.

“What am I to understand by this, madam?” said Mr. Scragg, fiercely, as soon as they had all reached the parlor, planting his hands upon his hips as he spoke, drawing himself up, and looking at Mrs. Darlington with a lowering countenance.

“Take a seat, madam,” said Mrs. Darlington, addressing the man’s wife in a tone of forced composure.  She was struggling for self-possession.

The lady sat down.

“Will you be good enough to explain the meaning of all this, madam?” repeated Mr. Scragg.

“The meaning is simply,” replied Mrs. Darlington, “that I have let the front room in the second story to a gentleman and his wife for twelve dollars a-week.”

“The deuce you have!” said Mr. Scragg, with a particular exhibition of gentlemanly indignation.  “And pray, madam, didn’t you let both the rooms in the second story to me for sixteen dollars?”

“I did; but”—­

“Oh, very well.  That’s all I wish to know about it.  The rooms were rented to me, and from that day became mine.  Please to inform the lady and her husband that I am here with my family, and desire them to vacate the chambers as quickly as possible.  I’m a man that knows his rights, and, knowing, always maintains them.”

“You cannot have the rooms, sir.  That is out of the question,” said Mrs. Darlington, looking both distressed and indignant.

“And I tell you that I will have them!” replied Scragg, angrily.

“Peter!  Peter!  Don’t act so,” now interposed Mrs. Scragg.  “There’s no use in it.”

“Ain’t there, indeed!  We’ll see.  Madam”—­he addressed Mrs. Darlington—­“will you be kind enough to inform the lady and gentleman who now occupy one of our rooms”—­

“Mr. Scragg!” said Mrs. Darlington, in whose fainting heart his outrageous conduct had awakened something of the right spirit—­“Mr. Scragg, I wish you to understand, once for all, that the front room is taken and now occupied, and that you cannot have it.”