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ool." Mr.Dawsonstared."You'realong-windedchap,"hesaid,"butI'mblessedifIknowwhatyou'redrivingat.Supposeyoutellmewhatyou'vecomefor,Mr."—hereferredasiffromhabittothepaper—"Newman." "Neumann,sir,"saidFritzingveryloud,forhewasgreatlyirritatedbyMr.Dawson'smannerandappearance. "Noymann,then,"saidMr.Dawson,equallyloudlyindeeditwasalmostashout.AndhebecamepossessedatthesameinstantofwhatwasknowntoFritzingasaredhead,whichisthegraphicGermanwayofdescribingtheglowthataccompanieswrath."Lookhere,"hesaid,"ifyoudon'tsaywhatyou'vegottosayandhavedonewithityou'dbettergo.I'mnotthechapforthefine-wordedgame,andI'mhangedifI'llbepreachedtoinmyownhouse.I'llbehangedifIwill,doyouhear?"AndhebroughthisfistdownonthetableinafashionveryfamiliartoMrs.DawsonandtheSymfordcottagers. "Sir,yourmanners—"saidFritzing,risingandtakinguphishat. "Nevermindmymanners,Mr.Newman." "Neumann,sir!"roaredFritzing. "Confoundyou,sir,"wasMr.Dawson'sirrelevantreply. "Sir,confoundyou,"saidFritzing,clappingonhishat."AndletmetellyouthatIamgoingatoncetoLadyShuttleworthandshallrecommendtohermostseriousconsiderationtheextremedesirabilityofremovingyou,sir." "Removingme!Wherethedeuceto?" "Sir,Icarenotwhithersolongasitishence,"criedFritzing,passionatelystridingtothedoor. Mr.Dawsonlaybackinhischairandgasped.ThemanwasplainlymadbutstillLadyShuttleworthmight—youneverknowwithwomen—"Lookhere—hie,you!Mr.Newman!"hecalled,forFritzinghadtornopenthedoorandwasthroughit. "Neumann,sir,"Fritzinghurledbackathimoverhisshoulder. "LadyShuttleworthwon'tseeyou,Mr.Noyman.Shewon'tonprinciple." Fritzingwavered. "Everythinggoesthroughmyhands.You'llonlyhaveyourwalkfornothing.Comebackandtellmewhatitisyouwant." "Sir,Iwillonlynegotiatewithyou,"saidFritzingdownthepassage—andMrs.Dawsonhearinghimfromthedrawing-roomfoldedherhandsinfearandwonder—"ifyouwillundertakeatleasttoimitatethemannersofagentleman." "Come,come,youmusn'tmisunderstandme,"saidMr.Dawsongettingupandgoingtothedoor."I'maplainman,youknow—" "Then,sir,allIcansayisthatIobjecttoplainmen." "Isay,whoareyou?Onewouldthinkyouwereadukeorsomebody,you'resopeppery.Dressedup"—Mr.DawsonglancedatthesuitofpedagogicblackintowhichFritzinghadoncemorerelapsed—"dressedupasastreetpreacher." "Iamnotdressedupasanything,sir,"saidFritzingcominginratherhurriedly."IamaretiredteacheroftheGermantongue,andhavecomedownfromLondoninsearchofacottageinwhichtospendmyremainingyears.ThatcottageIhavenowfoundhereinyourvillage,andIhavecometoinquireitsprice.Iwishtobuyitasquicklyaspossible." "That'sallverywell,Mr.—ohallright,allright,Iwon'tsayit.Butwhyonearthdon'tyouwriteitproperly,then?It'sthispaper'ssetmewrong.Iwasgoingtosaywe'vegotnocottageshereforsale.Andlookhere,ifthat'sallyouare,aretiredteacher,I'lltroubleyounottogetschoolmasteringmeagain." "Ireallythink,sir,"saidFritzingstretchinghishandtowardshishat,"thatitisbetterIshouldtrytoobtainaninterviewwithLadyShuttleworth,forIfearyouareconstitutionallyincapableofcarryingonabusinessconversationwiththerequisitedecentself-command." "Pooh—you'llgetnothingoutofher.She'llsendyoubacktome.Why,you'ddrivehermadinfiveminuteswiththattongueofyours.IfyouwantanythingI'myourman.Onlylet'sgetatwhatyoudowant,withoutalltheseconfoundeddictionarywords.Whichcottageisit?" "Itisthesmallcottage,"saidFritzingmasteringhisanger,"adjoiningthechurchyard.Itstandsbyitself,andisseparatedfromtheroadbyanextremelyminiaturegarden.ItisentirelycoveredbycreepingplantswhichIbelievetoberoses." "That'sacouple." "Somuchthebetter." "Andthey'relet.Onetotheshoemaker,andtheothertooldmotherShaw." "Accommodationcouldnodoubtbefoundforthepresenttenantsinsomeotherhouse,andIampreparedtoindemnifythemhandsomely.MightIinquirethenumberofroomsthecottagescontain?" "Twoapiece,andakitchenandattic.Coal-holeandpig-styeinthebackyard.Alsoapump.Butthey'renotforsa