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It proceeded from Miss Pross, the wild red woman, strong of hand,

whose acquaintance he had first made at the Royal George Hotel at

Dover, and had since improved.

"I should have thought--" Mr. Lorry began.

"Pooh! You'd have thought!" said Miss Pross; and Mr. Lorry left

off.

"How do you do?" inquired that lady then--sharply, and yet as if

to express that she bore him no malice.

"I am pretty well, I thank you," answered Mr. Lorry, with

meekness; "how are you?"

"Nothing to boast of," said Miss Pross.

"Indeed?"

"Ah! indeed!" said Miss Pross. "I am very much put out about my

Ladybird."

"Indeed?"

"For gracious sake say something else besides 'indeed,' or you'll

fidget me to death," said Miss Pross: whose character

(dissociated from stature) was shortness.

"Really, then?" said Mr. Lorry, as an amendment.

"Really, is bad enough," returned Miss Pross, "but better. Yes, I

am very much put out."

"May I ask the cause?"