
Miss Knag.
    »Well, but consider,« reasoned Ralph, who had a great interest in the
matter. »It would be well to reflect. A married woman has no property.«
    »Not a solitary single individual dem, my soul,« said Mr. Mantalini, raising
himself upon his elbow.
    »I am quite aware of that,« retorted Madame Mantalini, tossing her head;
»and I have none. The business, the stock, this house, and everything in it, all
belong to Miss Knag.«
    »That's quite true, Madame Mantalini,« said Miss Knag, with whom her late
employer had secretly come to an amicable understanding on this point. »Very
true, indeed, Madame Mantalini - hem - very true. And I never was more glad in
all my life, that I had strength of mind to resist matrimonial offers, no matter
how advantageous, than I am when I think of my present position as compared with
your most unfortunate and most undeserved one, Madame Mantalini.«
    »Demmit!« cried Mr. Mantalini, turning his head towards his wife. »Will it
not slap and pinch the envious dowager, that dares to reflect upon its own
delicious?«
    But the day of Mr. Mantalini's blandishments had departed. »Miss Knag, sir,«
said his wife, »is my particular friend;« and although Mr. Mantalini leered till
his eyes seemed in danger of never coming back to their right places again,
Madame Mantalini showed no signs of softening.
    To do the excellent Miss Knag justice, she had been mainly instrumental in
bringing about this altered state of things, for, finding by daily experience,
that there was no chance of the business thriving, or even continuing to exist,
while Mr. Mantalini had any hand in the expenditure, and having now a
considerable interest in its well-doing, she had sedulously applied herself to
the investigation of some little matters connected with that gentleman's private
character, which she had so well elucidated, and artfully imparted to Madame
Mantalini, as to open her eyes more effectually than the closest and most
philosophical reasoning could have done in a series of years. To which end, the
accidental discovery by Miss Knag of some tender correspondence, in which Madame
Mantalini was described as old and ordinary, had most providentially
contributed.
    However, notwithstanding her firmness, Madame Mantalini wept very piteously;
and as she leant upon Miss Knag, and signed towards the door, that young lady
and all the other young ladies with sympathising faces, proceeded to bear her
