MARTIN RATTLER. 293

in the evening; for then it was that he found him-
self seated before the blazing fire in the parlour of the
Old Hulk, to which Aunt Dorothy Grumbit had con-
sented to’ be removed, and in which she was now a
fixture. Then it was that old Mr. Jollyboy beamed
with benevolence, until the old lady sometimes thought
the fire was going to melt him; then it was that the
tea-kettle sang on the hob like a canary; and then
it was that Barney bustled about the room preparing
the evening meal, and talking all the time with the
most perfect freedom to any one who chose to listen
to him. Yes, seven p.m. was Martin’s great hour,
and Aunt Dorothy’s great hour, and old Mr. Jolly-
boy’s great hour, and Barney’s too; for each knew
that the labours of the day were done, and that the
front door was locked for the night, and that a great
talk was brewing.

They had a tremendous talk every night, some-
times on one subject, sometimes on another; but
the subject of all others that they talked oftenest
about was their travels. And many a time and
oft, when the winter storms howled round the Old
Hulk, Barney was invited to draw in his chair, and
Martin and he plunged again vigorously into the
great old forests of South America, and spoke so

feelingly about them that Aunt Dorothy and Mr.