good.

MR. MORRIS. Thank you, ma'am; I think I will.

So the company were helped; though, as the meat and vegetables were
glued fast to the dishes they were on, I'm afraid they must have had
rather a slim dinner.

Then Maggie went on.

MISS ISABELLA. Mr. Morris, I think I am rather tired of that uniform of
yours; it makes you look too high in the neck. When we are married, you
ought to have a dress coat.

ANGELINA. H-a! h-a-a-a! he hasn't got any other coat! _I_ wouldn't marry
an old goose with only one suit!

MRS. M. For shame, Miss! your father hadn't but one when we were
married; but, bless me! what _is_ Algernon doing?

Sure enough, Master Algy _was_ doing something extraordinary, for Maggie
had made him overset the dish of potatoes in the middle of the table,
and then jump up and sit on the back of his chair, with both legs in the
air!

MRS. M. My pasence! _what_ a naughty boy! Toby, take this bad boy right
up stairs; I am socked! (shocked.)

ALGY. Oh, boo-hoo! boo-hoo! please let me stay!

MRS. M. Well, then, behave yourself.

MISS MORRIS. Mrs. Montague, I think you had _better_ send your children
away; they are too bad for anything.

ANGELINA. Oh! oh! I wouldn't be your child for a dollar! ("That's just
what I say to my big sister!" put in Maggie in her proper person.)

MRS. M. Oh, they are dear little things; they only do it in fun, Miss
Morris.

MR. MORRIS. Well, I don't see it. If they were my children, I should
lock them up in a dark closet.

MISS MORRIS. So should I.

ANGELINA. H-a! h-a-a-a! that's just where you are kept yourself!

MISS MORRIS. Oh, I _shall_ faint!

MRS. M. Angelina! you sha'n't have any pudding for being so bad. There,
I guess it's time for dessert,"--and without condescending to ask if the
company were through dinner, Mrs. Montague, with a wave of her
lily-white kid hand, ordered Toby to clear away the dishes; and, the
pudding and jelly being put on the table, Lina went on:

MR. M. Miss Morris, have some plum-pudding?

TOBY. No, take some ob de jolly, missis; he so _jolly_ good! _I_ taste
um!

Mr. M. Toby, I am _astonissed_! I shall have to discharge you to-morrow.

"And have an Irishman come!" cried Minnie; "and talk funny, like our
Patrick!"

"Yes, that will be real fun!" said Lina. "There, they have had dinner
enough; let them go in the parlor now."

Accordingly, the company had their chairs pushed back for them and were
taken into the parlor, all but