“Is the steamer signified, sir?” asked Mrs. Partington
at the telegraph station.

“Yes 'm,” replied the clerk, who was busily engaged
turning over the leaves of his day-book.

“Can you tell me,” continued she, “if the queen's
encroachment has taken place yet?”

“Some say she is encroaching all the time,” said the
clerk, looking pleasantly at the old lady, and evidently
pleased with his own smartness.

“That is n't possible,” responded the venerable dame;
“but,” said she to herself, “how could he be expected
to know about such things? and yet there is no reason
why he should n't, for all the bars to science, 'notamy
and them things, is let down now-a-days, and Natur is
shown all undressed, like a puppet-show, sixpence a
sight!”

“Good morning, sir,” said she, as he bowed her out;
and as she passed down the stairs her mind, grasping the
manifold subjects of the telegraph, queen, and facilities
in science, became oblivious in a fog.