90 



MARK TWAIN'S SKETCHES. 



once more, while my wife quieted the sufferer. But in a little while these words 

 came murmuring remotely through the fog of my drowsiness : 



" Mortimer, if we only had some goose-grease — will you ring ? " 



I climbed dreamily out, and stepped on a cat, which responded with a protest 

 and would have got a convincing kick for it if a chair had not got it instead. 



" Now, Mortimer, why do you want to turn up the gas and wake up the child 

 again ? " 



"Because I want to see how much I am hurt, Caroline." 



" Well look at the chair, too — I have no doubt it is ruined 

 you had — " 

 not going t o 



thing about the 



would have oc- 



h a d been a 1- 



here and attend 



which are in her 



in mine." 



mer, I should 



be ashamed to 



like that. It is 



cannot do the 



I ask o f you a t 



ful time as 



child—" 



I will do any- 



But I can't raise 



this bell. They're 



Where is the 



" On the mantel piece in the nursery. If you'll step there and speak to Maria — " 

 I fetched the goose-grease and went to sleep again : Once more I was called : 

 " Mortimer, I so hate to disturb you, but the room is still too cold for me to try- 

 to apply this stuff. Would you mind lighting the fire ? It is all ready to touch a 



match to." 



Poor cat, suppose 



"Now I am 



suppose any- 



cat. 1 1 never 



curred if Maria 



lowed to remain 



to these duties, 



line and are not 



"Now Morti- 



think you would 



make a remark 



a pity , i f y o ii 



few little things 



such an aw- 



this when our 



"There, there, 



■•thing you want. 



anybody with 



all gone to bed. 



goose-grease 



?' 



