of Lords. If the Commons could have had
their own way, you might have been named 'Lucy' or 'Clara.'"

"I don't incline to 'Lucy' or 'Clara,' sir," said Mrs. Jenkins,
decidedly; "being, as they always strikes me, sickly story-book sort of
names; but I _do_ like justice and a free country! I always have felt
doubtful o' them Lords, since I listened to my married niece's husband,
a very respectable journeyman tailor but mostly out of work; and if
it's _their_ doing that I'm 'Martha,' well, _I_ shall know what to do
with Jenkins's vote--that's all!"

The Boy slapped his leg and rocked. "Martha, you ought to be put up to
speak at political meetings. That's the whole thing in a nutshell:
cause, effect, results, arguments, everything! Oh, my wig!--Yes, they
are a lot of old stick-in-the-muds in the Upper House, aren't they?"
pursued the Boy--who had had a long line of dignified ancestors in that
much abused place; had an uncle there at the present moment, and was
more than likely eventually to have to sit there himself--"a rotten lot
of old stick-in-the-muds, Martha; but I think they did well by you.
I'd give them the benefit of Jenkins's vote. I really would. I am
glad they chose 'M,' not 'N.' Naomi was a widow and dismal. She never
made the smallest effort to buck up. But Martha was a nice person; a
bit flurried perhaps, and hot-tempered; but well up in cooking, and
keen on it. I like Martha."

The Boy sat and meditated. Why did she read Greek plays with a person
who left goloshes on the mat, and brought out an ancient umbrella with
a waist, on an absolutely cloudless day?

"It wasn't m' own name surprised me, Mr. Guy, sir," remarked Martha,
coyly; "it was the name you was pleased to _h_add."

The Boy pulled himself together. "Eh, what? Oh, 'Martha, my duck'? I
see. I hope you don't mind, Martha. It seemed to me rather a suitable
and pretty addition to 'Martha.' You see, yours is a name which cannot
be shortened when one feels affectionate. 'Sarah' can be 'Sally';
'Amelia' can be 'Milly'; 'Caroline' can be 'Carrie'; but 'Martha'
remains 'Martha' however loving people feel. What does Jenkins call
you when he feels affectionate?"

Martha snorted. "Jenkins knows 'is place," she said, jerking the round
lid off the stove, and putting on the kettle.

"Jenkins is a model," smiled the Boy.

Then Martha looked round, her feminine curiosity, and perhaps a touch
of jealousy, getting the better of her resp