sing remonstrance. At last, he was determined to put on a bold face, and become quite gruff and sturdy in his demands. But the moment he came into the manager's presence, his resolution failed him, for he was assailed by such powers of bows, and smiles, and kind inquiries after his family, such pressing invitations to sit in the handsomest chair, take a glass of wine, partake a family dinner, or spend a Sunday at the manager's villa; and all that he intended to say, in urging his claim, was so completely anticipated by apologies and feasible excuses for non-payment, that he could not find courage to pronounce the object of his visit. And if he betrayed any symptoms of a disposition to reply or remonstrate, the discourse was so agreeably turned in an instant, that he could not venture to urge a disagreeable topic, and he retired under an escort of the manager in person to the stairs' head. Descended to the hall, under a shower of kind expressions, was ushered to the door by a brace of liveried footmen, rung up for the very purpose.
On his return home from these visits, his wife, who was of the Xantippean school, failed not to lecture him severely, as a noodle and a ninny, who had not the courage to demand and insist upon his right as a man; asseverating, that "if she had the management of the affair, she would soon have the money, in spite of the manager's palavering." The husband acknowledged his weakness, and said he should cheerfully resign the business to her care, but predicted, that, with all her fierceness, she would be conquered also.
The good lady chose a morning for her purpose; advanced against the manager, attired in all her finery, and armed with all her ferocity and eloquence, reached Barry's hall door, where her presence was announced by a thundering sonata on the knocker. The footman, guessing the nature of her errand, and anticipating a storm, from the fury of her countenance, said his master was not at home. Just at this moment, however, the voice of Mr.
