oung man, thoughtfully, as he laid out his little
pieces of mechanism on the table; "this is an attempt to invent a means
of producing musical sounds by percussion."

"With p'cussion-caps, sir?"

"No, no! by blows."

"Oh, I see, S'Richard."

"I have often thought that more might be done, Jerry, in the way of
obtaining musical notes."

"Of course, S'Richard."

"You see," said the young man, dreamily, "we produce them by vibration."

"Yes, S'Richard, and whistling, and fiddling, and blowing trombones."

"Exactly; that is all connected with vibration."

"Oh, is it, sir? I s'pose you're right; but then there's pyanners, sir,
and orgins, sir, street and otherwise!"

"Exactly, Jerry," said the young student drily. "There, I'm busy now;
I'll remember what you said, and, if I can have you with me, I will."

"Thank you kindly, S'Richard. Don't you be afraid as I won't do my
dooty by you!"

"I won't, Jerry. Then that's all, isn't it?"

"Well, S'Richard, not quite all; there's your cousin, sir--Mr Mark,
sir."

"Well, what about him?"

"Only this, S'Richard: if you'd speak to him, and tell him as servants
ain't doormats, I should be greatly obliged."

"What do you mean?"

"Only this, S'Richard, as it's getting beyond bearing! I don't want to
go complaining to Mr Draycott, sir, but there is bounds to everything!
Havin' all kinds of hard words chucked at you--`fools' and `idgits' and
`jackasses'--and when it comes to boots and hair-brushes, I says as it's
rough enough; but when it's a soda-water bottle and a plate, I can't
stand it, and I won't!"

"What had you been doing to annoy my cousin?"

"Nothin', S'Richard. I just work for him same as I do for my other
gentlemen, or for you, sir; and you never threw a bad word at me in your
life--let alone boots!"

"Did the things hit you, Jerry?"

"No, S'Richard, I can't say as they hit me; but they hurt me, all the
same. Servants has feelings same as gents has."

"I'm very sorry, Jerry. Mr Frayne is a little irritable sometimes."

"If you made it often, S'Richard, you wouldn't be very far out."

"Well, often then. His studies worry him, I suppose."

Jerry made a peculiar grimace.

"And he has had a little trouble once or twice with Mr Draycott."

"Yes, S'Richard, he ayve."

"There, I'll speak to him, Jerry. He doesn't mean anything by it, for
he's a good fellow at heart; and when he feels that he has hurt your
feelings I daresay it will mean an