'
It appeared that Mrs. Robson was 'pretty nigh wore out, a setting up
for Mr. Griffith's untimely hours.' 'He laughed and coaxed--what I
calls cajoling--did Mr. Griff, to get a latch-key; but we knows our
dooty too well for that, and Mrs. Winslow had made us faithfully
promise, when Master Clarence first came to us, that he should never
have a latch-key,--Mr. Clarence, as had only been five times later
than eleven o'clock, and then he was going to dine with Mr.
Castleford, or to the theayter, and spoke about it beforehand. If
he was not reading to poor Miss Newton, as was gone, or with some of
his language-masters, he was setting at home with his books and
papers, not giving no trouble to nobody, after he had had his bit of
bread and cheese and glass of beer to his supper.'
Ay, Peter knew what young gentlemen was. He did not expect to see
them all like poor Master Clarence, as had had his troubles; the
very life knocked out of him in his youth, as one might say. Indeed
Peter would be pleased to see him a bit more sprightly, and taking
more to society and hamusements of his hage. Nor would there be any
objection if the late 'ours was only once a week or so, and things
was done in a style fitting the family; but when it came to mostly
every night, often to two or three o'clock, it was too much for Mrs.
Robson, for she would never go to bed, being mortal afraid of fire,
and not always certain that Mr.
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