gruffly; "and if it weren't that I don't want
to make a row afore the ladies, I'd have you off that trunk afore you
knew where you was. And as to leaving the box alone, my missus said I
was to take it down to the keb. Is it to go, old lady?"

"Yes, certainly," said Mrs Jenkles, with flashing eyes.

"Now, Barney, d'yer hear?" said Sam.

"Who do you call Barney? You don't know me," said he.

"Oh no," said Sam; "I don't know you. I didn't give yer a lift in my
'ansom, and drive yer away down at 'Ampton, when the mob had torn yer
clothes into rags for welching, and they was going to pitch yer in the
Thames, eh?"

Barney scowled, and shuffled about on his seat.

"Now, then," said Sam; "are you going to get up?"

"No," said Barney.

"Mrs Jenkles, pray end this scene!" exclaimed Mrs Lane,
pitifully--"for her sake," she added in a whisper.

"I'll end it, mum," said Sam.

And he gave a sharp whistle, with the result that the door was opened so
violently that Mrs Sturt was jerked forward against Sam, the cause
being a policeman, who now stood in the entry, with the further effect
that Barney leaped off the trunk, and stood looking aghast.

Mrs Jenkles gave a sigh of relief, and a gratified look at her husband.

"Here's the case, policeman," said Sam. "Ladies here wants to leave
these lodgings: they've given notice and paid their rent; but the missus
here brings out a bill for things as the lady says she's never had, and
wants to stop their boxes. It's county court, aint it? They can't stop
the clothes?"

"Nobody wants to stop no boxes," said Barney, uneasily. "Only it was
precious shabby on 'em going like this."

"Then you don't want to stop the boxes, eh?" said Sam.

Mrs Sturt gave her husband a sharp dig with her elbow.

"Be quiet, can't you!" he snarled; and then to Sam, "'course I don't."

"Then ketch hold o' t'other end," said Sam, placing the bag on the
trunk.

And like a lamb Barney helped to bear his late lodger's impedimenta
downstairs, and then to place them on the cab, as Mrs Jenkles led Netta
half fainting from the room.

Five minutes after, Sam had banged-to the rattling door, shutting in the
little party, climbed to his box, and settled himself in his place, with
a good-humoured nod to the policeman, who stood beating his gloves
together, while Barney stood at the side of his wife.

"Here's the price of a pint for you, Barney," said Sam, throwing him a
couple of pence--money which Ba