SIMPSONS SNIPE 55 



against you, which she does in a persistent remorse- 

 less way, she is a terror. ISTo man, be he as brave 

 as Leonidas or as cool as Sir Charles Coldstream, is 

 proof against the partner of his bosom when she is 

 on the rampage ; and, as I have already observed, 

 Mrs S. was " end on." 



"Another change will do the children good, 

 Maria," I observed. 



" Yes, I suppose so. It will do Willie's cold 

 good to sleep in your dressing-room without a fire, 

 won't it ? and Blossie can have a bed made 

 up in the bath. Is this Mr Simpson married or 

 single ? " 



Hinc nice lachrymce. I couldn't say. I never 

 asked him. 



'' What does it matter ? " I commenced, with a 

 view to diplomatising. 



" Yes, but it does," she interposed. " If he is a 

 respectable married man, which I very much doubt, 

 he must have dear Willie's room." 



" I am very sorry that I asked him at all, Maria ; 

 but as he has been asked, and as I must drive over 

 to meet him in a few minutes, for Heaven's sake 

 make the best of it." 



" Oh, of course ; I receive my instructions, and 

 am to carry them out. All the trouble falls upon 

 me, while you drive off to the station smoking a 



