"I wish your mouth was stuffed up," observed Judkins, with asperity, "that would be a comfort to all mankind. The devil's in the chimnies, that's my belief," he added; and just as he had finished this remarkable sentence, their mistress's bell rung violently.
"There!" cried cook, "now we shall just see who's right and who's wrong. Come along, Mary; we'll both go up to missis together."
"And if you say any thing about me," said Judkins, "I'll let you know the difference."
"I shan't mince the matter a mite," retorted cook.
"No, I know you won't," said Judkins. "If ever there was a imp, she's one," he added, as cook and Mary went round to answer the bell. But before they reached the chamber, their mistress met them, for as the parlour chimney communicated with the one in her room, the smoke which issued from it had driven her out.
"What on earth is the matter?" she demanded. "Where does all this smoke come from?"
"The chimney," said cook.
"Is the chimney on fire?"
"No; it's stuffed up with something, ma'am."
"Send for the sweep instantly! Don't lose a moment. Tell Judkins to make the utmost haste. Good gracious me," she continued, knocking at Sylvester's door, as Mary ran down stairs to send Judkins off for the village sweep, "Sylvester, my love!" she added, knocking still louder.
"Great heavens!—Sylvester!—Sylvester!—come to the door."
"Is that you, aunt?" he cried; and on hearing his voice, she clasped her hands, and fervently thanked heaven that he was safe.
"What is the matter?" he inquired on opening the door.
His aunt fell upon his neck, and could not for a moment answer.
"What is it?—what has happened?" again he demanded.
"Nothing, my love," she replied, "nothing of importance. I feared that you had been overpowered by the smoke."
"What, is there a fire?"
"No, no, no—no, my love—no! The chimney's out of order—yes—the chimney's out of order—nothing more."
"Then why do you tremble so?"
"Do I tremble now? I thought the smoke might have reached your room."
"No, I've had no smoke here. I smell it now strongly. But come, come! Dear aunt, you will cause me to think that something more has occurred."
"No, no—nothing more—nothing more—believe me.
"Then compose yourself: come!—the smoke will very soon evaporate. I'll just slip my things on: I'll not be a moment."
Aunt Eleanor then descended with Mary, and on going into the parlour, in which no attempt to light a fire had been made, she examined the chimney, and being unable to see anything in it, at once directed that to be tried.
And it was tried, and, lo! the result was the same: they were compelled to leave the room to escape suffocation.
