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164 "Peter," said she, "you have thought fit to square-up to me. You will continue to square-up at everybody you meet, until further notice."

The Old Lady hobbled away into her bed-room, and Peter, to his extreme dismay, found himself compelled to be continually squaring-up, in an undaunted manner, at a roomful of invisible enemies. He retired in great confusion to his loft, shouting down to his friends in the bar-parlour, that he had altogether failed in his mission.

It was now Jenny's turn to try her luck with the Old Lady. The poor little timid girl set about her work with great reluctance.

"Well, my dear," said the Old Lady, "what do you want?"

Jenny, finding the Old Lady in an amiable mood, thought that she could not do better than endeavour to coax her out of the place.

"Dear Old Lady," said she, "you are so kind, and so good, and so amiable, that I am sure it is only necessary to tell you that we want your room or your rent, and you will immediately humour our little wishes in this respect. Now do, there's a dear, kind, pretty Old Lady."

And Jenny began to kiss and coax the Old Lady, as no Old Lady was ever kissed and coaxed before.

"My dear," said the Old Lady, "this show of affection for one you don't care twopence about, is very disgusting, and, as a punishment, you will be so good as to kiss and coax everybody you meet until further notice."

And Jenny retired in great confusion to her room,