ere.

"I thought somebody knocked," thought she, a little mystified. "Perhaps
I was mistaken."

She went back to her tub, and had no sooner got her hands in the suds
than another knock was heard, this time on the back door.

"I declare!" said she, in increased vexation, "There's another knock. I
shan't get through my washing to-day."

Again Mrs. Mudge wiped her hands on her apron, and went to the door.

There was nobody there.

I need hardly say that it was Ben, who had knocked both times, and
instantly dodged round the corner of the house.

"It's some plaguy boy," said Mrs. Mudge, her eyes blazing with anger.
"Oh, if I could only get hold of him!"

"Don't you wish you could?" chuckled Ben to himself, as he caught a sly
glimpse of the indignant woman.

Meanwhile, Squire Newcome had walked along in his usual slow and
dignified manner, until he had reached the front door of the Poorhouse,
and knocked.

"It's that plaguy boy again," said Mrs. Mudge, furiously. "I won't go
this time, but if he knocks again, I'll fix him."

She took a dipper of hot suds from the tub in which she had been
washing, and crept carefully into the entry, taking up a station close
to the front door.

"I wonder if Mrs. Mudge heard me knock," thought Squire Newcome. "I
should think she might. I believe I will knock again."

This time he knocked with his cane.

Rat-tat-tat sounded on the door.

The echo had not died away, when the door was pulled suddenly open, and
a dipper full of hot suds was dashed into the face of the astonished
Squire, accompanied with, "Take that, you young scamp!"

"Wh--what does all this mean?" gasped Squire Newcome, nearly strangled
with the suds, a part of which had found its way into his mouth.

"I beg your pardon, Squire Newcome," said the horrified Mrs. Mudge. "I
didn't mean it."

"What did you mean, then?" demanded Squire Newcome, sternly. "I think
you addressed me,--ahem!--as a scamp."

"Oh, I didn't mean you," said Mrs. Mudge, almost out of her wits with
perplexity.

"Come in, sir, and let me give you a towel. You've no idea how I've been
tried this morning."

"I trust," said the Squire, in his stateliest tone, "you will be able
to give a satisfactory explanation of this, ahem--extraordinary
proceeding."

While Mrs. Mudge was endeavoring to sooth the ruffled dignity of the
aggrieved Squire, the "young scamp," who had caused all the mischief,
made his escape through the fields.

"Oh, wasn