e remarked huskily.

"There have been a few changes," said Horace, quietly, "as you can see.
You don't happen to know where they've put my dress-clothes, do you?"

"I don't 'appen to know where they've put nothink. Your dress clothes?
Why, I dunno where they've bin and put our little parler where me and
Maria 'ave set of a hevenin' all these years regular. I dunno where
they've put the pantry, nor yet the bath-room, with 'ot and cold water
laid on at my own expense. And you arsk me to find your hevenin' soot! I
consider, sir, I consider that a unwall--that a most unwarrant-terrible
liberty have bin took at my expense."

"My good man, don't talk rubbish!" said Horace.

"I'm talking to you about what _I know_, and I assert that an
Englishman's 'ome is his cashle, and nobody's got the right when his
backsh turned to go and make a 'Ummums of it. Not _nobody_ 'asn't!"

"Make a _what_ of it?" cried Ventimore.

"A 'Ummums--that's English, ain't it? A bloomin' Turkish baths! Who do
you suppose is goin' to take apartments furnished in this 'ere
ridic'loush style? What am I goin' to say to my landlord? It'll about
ruing me, this will; and after you bein' a lodger 'ere for five year and
more, and regarded by me and Maria in the light of one of the family.
It's 'ard--it's damned 'ard!"

"Now, look here," said Ventimore, sharply--for it was obvious that Mr.
Rapkin's studies had been lightened by copious refreshment--"pull
yourself together, man, and listen to me."

"I respeckfully decline to pull myshelf togerrer f'r anybody livin',"
said Mr. Rapkin, with a noble air. "I shtan' 'ere upon my dignity as a
man, sir. I shay, I shtand 'ere upon----" Here he waved his hand, and
sat down suddenly upon the marble floor.

"You can stand on anything you like--or can," said Horace; "but hear
what I've got to say. The--the people who made all these alterations
went beyond my instructions. I never wanted the house interfered with
like this. Still, if your landlord doesn't see that its value is
immensely improved, he's a fool, that's all. Anyway, I'll take care
_you_ shan't suffer. If I have to put everything back in its former
state, I will, at my own expense. So don't bother any more about
_that_."

"You're a gen'l'man, Mr. Ventimore," said Rapkin, cautiously regaining
his feet. "There's no mishtaking a gen'l'man. _I'm_ a gen'l'man."

"Of course you are," said Horace genially, "and I'll tell you how you're
going to show it. You're