watch. One day an Italian with his organ came — 

 first begging, then demanding money — showing 

 that lie knew she was alone, and that he meant to 

 help himself, if she didn't. She threatened to 

 " lowse the dowg" ; but as this was Greek to him, 

 he pushed on. She had just time to set Wasp at 

 him. It was very short work. She had him by 

 the throat, pulled him and his organ down with a 

 heavy crash, the organ giving a ludicrous sort of 

 cry of musical pain. Wasp, thinking this was 

 from some creature within, possibly a whittret, 

 left the ruffian, and set to work teeth and nail on 

 the box. Its master slunk off, and with mingled 

 fury and thankfulness, watched her disembowelling 

 his only means of an honest living. The woman 

 good-naturedly took her off, and signed to the 

 miscreant to make himself and his remains scarce. 

 This he did with a scowl ; and was found in the 

 evening in the village, telling a series of lies to 

 the watchmaker, and bribing him with a shilling 

 to mend his pipes — "his kist o' whussels." 



Dachie 



Her oddities were endless. We had and still have 

 a dear friend, — "Cousin Susan" she is called by 

 many who are not her cousins — a perfect lady, 

 and, though hopelessly deaf, as gentle and 

 contented as ever Griselda with the full use of her 



174 



