surly, and not at all offended. He
was perplexed a little; looked at his wife in some sly wonder at her,
but answered not.

'Ef I began, I'd go through. I wouldn't make no half way with it;
that's all I was goin' to say,' his wife went on, with a grave face
that showed she was not jesting.

'It's saying a good deal!' remarked Christopher, still looking at her.

'It's sayin' a good deal, to make the first prayer; but ef I made the
first one, I'd make all the rest. I don't abide no half work in _my_
garden, Christopher; that's what I was thinkin'; and I don't believe
Him you pray to likes it no better.'

Christopher was utterly unprepared to go on with this subject; and
finally gave up trying, and attended to his supper. After a little
while his wife struck a new theme. She was not a trained rhetorician;
but when she had said what she had to say she was always contented to
stop.

'How are things going up your way to-day?' she asked.

'My way is down here, I'm happy to say.'

'Wall, up to the colonel's, then. What's the news?'

'Ain't no sort o' news. Never is. They're always at the old things. The
colonel he lies on his sofy, and Miss Esther she goes and comes. They
want to get a house in town, now she's goin' so regular, only they
can't find one to fit.'

'Kin't find a house? I thought there was houses enough in all New York.'

'Houses enough, but they all is set up so high in their rents, you see.'

'Is that the trouble?'

'That is exactly the trouble; and Miss Esther, I can see, she doesn't
know just what to do.'

'They ain't gittin' along well, Christopher?'

'Well, there is no doubt they ain't! I should say they was gettin' on
uncommon bad. Don't seem as if they could any way pay up all their
bills at once. They pay this man, and then run up a new score with some
other man. Miss Esther, she tries all she knows; but there ain't no one
to help her.'

'They git this house cheaper than they'd git any one in town, I guess.
They'd best stay where they be.'

'Yes, but you see, Miss Esther has to go and come every day now; she's
teachin' in a school, that's what she is,' said Christopher, letting
his voice drop as if he were speaking of some desecration. 'That's what
she is; and so she has to be there regular, rain or shine makes no
difference. An' if they was in town, you see, they wouldn't want the
horse, nor me.'

'_You_ don't cost 'em nothin'!' returned Mrs. Bounder.

'No; but they don't know that