and next morning a drunken, idle fellow, with a clay pipe in his mouth, and a dirty pair of corduroy trousers, no coat, but a shirt very open at the chest, showing inflamed skin, the effect of drink, inspected that work of art with blinking eyes and vacillating toes, and said, “This comes of a chap doing too much.  A few more like you, and work would be scarce.  A fine thing for gentlefolks to make one man fill two places! but it ain’t the gentlefolks’ fault, it’s the man as humors ’em.”

Pearman was a peaceable man, and made no reply, but went on with his work; only during the day he told his master that he should be obliged to him if he would fill his situation as soon as convenient.

The master inquired the cause, and the man told him, and said the mews was too hot for him.

The doctor offered him five pounds a year more, knowing he had a treasure; but Pearman said, with sadness and firmness, that he had made up his mind to go, and go he would.

The doctor’s heart fairly sank at the prospect of losing the one creature he could depend upon.

Next Sunday evening Clara was out, and fell in with friends, to whom she exaggerated her grievance.

Then they worked her up to fury, after the manner of servants’ friends.  She came home, packed her box, brought it down, and then flounced into the room to Doctor and Mrs. Staines, and said, “I shan’t sleep another night in this house.”

Rosa was about to speak, but Dr. Staines forbade her:  he said, “You had better think twice of that.  You are a good servant, though for once you have been betrayed into speaking disrespectfully.  Why forfeit your character, and three weeks’ wages?”

“I don’t care for my wages.  I won’t stay in such a house as this.”

“Come, you must not be impertinent.”

“I don’t mean to, sir,” said she, lowering her voice suddenly; then, raising it as suddenly, “There are my keys, ma’am, and you can search my box.”

“Mrs. Staines will not search your box; and you will retire at once to your own part of the house.”

“I’ll go farther than that,” said she, and soon after the street door was slammed; the Bijou shook.

At six o’clock next morning, she came for her box.  It had been put away for safety.  Pearman told her she must wait till the doctor came down.  She did not wait, but went at eleven A.M. to a police-magistrate, and took out a summons against Dr. Staines, for detaining a box containing certain articles specified—­value under fifteen pounds.

When Dr. Staines heard she had been for her box, but left no address, he sent Pearman to hunt for her.  He could not find her.  She avoided the house, but sent a woman for her diurnal love letters.  Dr. Staines sent the woman back to fetch her.  She came, received her box, her letters, and the balance of her wages, which was small, for Staines deducted the three weeks’ wages.

Two days afterwards, to his surprise, the summons was served.