My orders is, to 'tach the
furnitur', and stay till I git a receipter."
Mrs. Sandford's reply was inaudible. The voice proceeded:--
"Can't help it, Ma'am. Won't be back to-night, won't he? Bad, cert'in.
But duty is duty, as I said afore. I'll bunk here on the sofy, an'
to-morror we'll see what's to be done."
Another pause.
"Oh, you won't run off 'ith anythin'? I s'pose not. But duty is duty,
as I said afore, and I must mind orders. 'Stick by till you git a
receipter,' sez he. 'I will,' sez I,--an' I must.--Never mind about
bedclose. I c'n sleep jest ez I be. You jest go up-stairs. I'll make
myself 't home."
Glad to be out of the society of the officer, Mrs. Sandford started to
go upstairs, but was recalled by the voice.
"I say, Ma'am! A long night afore a chap, all by himself."
Mrs. Sandford trembled with mingled terror and rage.
"No 'bjection to light the gaas, I 'spose, so's't a feller can read a
paper? Thought o' that, and brought the 'York Herald' and 'Clipper.' If
you don't like tobarker, you c'n shet your doors and the smell won't git
in.
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