what sulky; Martha's
temper was not to be depended upon of an evening; and Mr. Ashburn
himself rarely contributed more than a heavy sigh to the common stock
of conversation.

Under these circumstances it will be readily believed that Mark's
'Evenings at Home' were by no means brilliant. He sometimes wondered
himself why he had borne them so long; and if he had been able to
procure comfortable lodgings at as cheap a rate as it cost him to live
at home, he would probably have taken an early opportunity of bursting
the bonds of the family dulness. But his salary was not large, his
habits were expensive, and he stayed on.

The beginning of this particular evening did not promise any marked
increase in the general liveliness. Mrs. Ashburn announced
lugubriously to all whom it might concern that she had eaten no lunch;
Martha mentioned that a Miss Hornblower had called that
afternoon--which produced no sensation, though Cuthbert seemed for a
moment inclined to ask who Miss Hornblower might happen to be, till he
remembered in time that he really did not care, and saved himself the
trouble. Then Trixie made a well-meant, but rather too obvious, effort
to allure him to talk by an inquiry (which had become something of a
formula) whether he had 'seen any one' that day, to which Cuthbert
replied that he had noticed one or two people hanging about the City;
and Martha observed that she was glad to see he still kept up his
jokes, moving him to confess sardonically that he knew he was a funny
dog, but when he saw them all--and particularly Martha--rollicking
round him, he could not help bubbling over with merriment himself.

Mrs. Ashburn caught the reply, and said severely: 'I do _not_ think,
Cuthbert, that either I or your father have ever set you the example
of "rollicking," as you call it, at this table. Decent mirth and a
cheerful tone of conversation we have always encouraged. I don't know
why you should receive a mother's remarks with laughter. It is not
respectful of you, Cuthbert, I must say!'

Mrs. Ashburn would probably have proceeded to further defend herself
and family from the charge of rollicking, and to draw uncomplimentary
parallels from the Proverbs between the laughter of certain persons
and the crackling of thorns under a pot, when a timely diversion was
effected by a sounding knock at the little front door. The maid put
down the dish she was handing and vanished; after which there were
sounds of a large body