"Well, my friends," said Mrs. Pardiggle, but her voice had not a friendly sound, I thought; it was much too business-like and systematic. "How do you do, all of you? I am here again. I told you, you couldn't tire me, you know. I am fond of hard work, and am true to my word."
"There an't," growled the man on the floor, whose head rested on his hand as he stared at us, "any more on you to come in, is there?"
"No, my friend," said Mrs. Pardiggle, seating herself on one stool and knocking down another. "We are all here."
"Because I thought there warn't enough of you, perhaps?" said the man, with his pipe between his lips as he looked round upon us.

"Well, my friends," said Mrs. Pardiggle, but her voice had not a friendly sound, I thought. "How do you do, all of you? I am here again. I told you, you couldn't tire me, you know."
"There an't any more on you to come in, is there?" growled the man on the floor.
