madness by the
calm style in which he proceeded to superintend the hanging of your
pictures.

Once he quartered himself like this on an old schoolmate of his, named
Brown, who had got married and steady and settled down. Brown tried all
ways to get rid of Steelman, but he couldn't do it. One day Brown said
to Steelman:

"Look here, Steely, old man, I'm very sorry, but I'm afraid we won't be
able to accommodate you any longer--to make you comfortable, I mean.
You see, a sister of the missus is coming down on a visit for a month or
two, and we ain't got anywhere to put her, except in your room. I wish
the missus's relations to blazes! I didn't marry the whole blessed
family; but it seems I've got to keep them."

Pause--very awkward and painful for poor Brown. Discouraging silence
from Steelman. Brown rested his elbows on his knees, and, with a
pathetic and appealing movement of his hand across his forehead, he
continued desperately:

"I'm very sorry, you see, old man--you know I'd like you to stay--I want
you to stay.... It isn't my fault--it's the missus's doings. I've done my
best with her, but I can't help it. I've been more like a master in my
own house--more comfortable--and I've been better treated since I've
had you to back me up.... I'll feel mighty lonely, anyway, when ycu're
gone.... But... you know... as soon as her sister goes... you know.... "

Here poor Brown broke down--very sorry he had spoken at all; but Steely
came to the rescue with a ray of light.

"What's the matter with the little room at the back?" he asked.

"Oh, we couldn't think of putting you there," said Brown, with a last
effort; "it's not fined up; you wouldn't be comfortable, and, besides,
it's damp, and you'd catch your death of cold. It was never meant for
anything but a wash-house. I'm sorry I didn't get another room built on
to the house."

"Bosh!" interrupted Steelman, cheerfully. "Catch a cold! Here I've been
knocking about the country for the last five years--sleeping out in all
weathers--and do you think a little damp is going to hurt me? Pooh! What
do you take me for? Don't you bother your head about it any more, old
man; I'll fix up the lumber-room for myself, all right; and all you've
got to do is to let me know when the sister-in-law business is coming
on, and I'll shift out of my room in time for the missus to get it ready
for her. Here, have you got a bob on you? I'll go out and get some beer.
A drop'll do you good