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 He went to the window and shouted, "Ruffin! Ruffin!"

The Honorable John Ruffin put his head out of his window.

"If you'll stand at your door and be ready to let Mary Bride in, I think I can clear the dipsomaniac fellow off the landing," said Mr. Gedge-Tomkins.

"Thank you—thank you very much," said the Honorable John Ruffin.

Mr. Gedge-Tomkins put on his wig and gown, and, followed by Pollyooly, went to his front door, flung it violently open, bounded heavily out on to the landing, and bellowed at the besieger: "Why are you loafing about on my half of the landing? I won't have it! Do you hear, you bottle-nosed ruffian! I won't have it!"

The morning nerves of the red- faced man jumped all ways at the shock, he bolted half-way down the flight of stairs, then turned to expostulate.

"You're on my half of the staircase now! Get off it!" bellowed Mr. Gedge-Tomkins; and Pollyooly passed quickly behind him into the Honorable John Ruffin's chambers.

The red-nosed, but dogged, Englishman uttered