ever given it him, you
know."

Mr. Pecksniff kept what was called a school for architects, and Tom
Pinch was one of his students.

"You, my dears, having to deal with your pa's pupils who can't help
themselves, are able to take your own way," said Mrs. Todgers, "but in a
boarding-house, where any gentleman may say, any Saturday evening, 'Mrs.
Todgers, this day week we part, in consequence of the cheese,' it is not
so easy to preserve a pleasant understanding. Your pa was kind enough,"
added the good lady, "to invite me to take a ride with you to-day; and I
think he mentioned that you were going to call upon Miss Pinch. Any
relation to the gentleman you were speaking of just now, Miss
Pecksniff?"

"For goodness' sake, Mrs. Todgers," interposed the lively Mercy, "don't
call him a gentleman. My dear Cherry, Pinch a gentleman! The idea!"

"What a wicked girl you are!" cried Mrs. Todgers, embracing her with
great affection. "You are quite a joker, I do declare! My dear Miss
Pecksniff, what a happiness your sister's spirits must be to your pa and
self!"

"That Pinch is the most hideous, goggle-eyed creature, Mrs. Todgers, in
existence," resumed Mercy: "quite an ogre. The ugliest, awkwardest,
frightfullest being, you can imagine. This is his sister, so I leave you
to suppose what _she_ is. I shall be obliged to laugh outright, I know
I shall!" cried the charming girl. "I never shall be able to keep my
face straight. The notion of a Miss Pinch really living at all is
sufficient to kill one, but to see her--oh my stars!"

Mrs. Todgers laughed immensely at the dear love's humor, and declared
she was quite afraid of her, that she was. She was so very severe.

"Who is severe?" cried a voice at the door. "There is no such thing as
severity in our family, I hope!" And then Mr. Pecksniff peeped smilingly
into the room, and said, "May I come in, Mrs. Todgers?"

Mrs. Todgers almost screamed, for the little door between that room and
the inner one being wide open, there was a full showing of the
sofa-bedstead open as a bed, and not closed as a sofa. But she had the
presence of mind to close it in the twinkling of an eye; and having done
so, said, though not without confusion, "Oh yes, Mr. Pecksniff, you can
come in if you please."

"How are we to-day," said Mr. Pecksniff, jocosely; "and what are our
plans? Are we ready to go and see Tom Pinch's sister? Ha, ha, ha! Poor
Thomas Pinch!"

"Are we ready," returned Mrs. Todgers, n