"Ah," said she, "I was almost afraid I had lost my daughters, but I
have found them again."
After dinner the girls showed her a quantity of cotton they had spun,
which proved that, though they might have been dull, they had, at
least, been industrious.
"Mary span the most of it," said Sophia; "but you know, Mrs. Becker,
she is the biggest."
"Oh, then," said Jack, "the power of spinning depends upon the bulk
of the spinner?"
"Oh, Master Jack, I thought you had been ill, that you had not
commenced quizzing us before."
"Never mind him, Soffy," said her father; "to quote Hudibras,
"There's nothing on earth hath so perfect a phiz,
As not to give birth to a passable quiz."
Here Willis led in the chimpanzee, who made a grimace to the assembled
company.
"Now, ladies and gentlemen," said Willis, "Jocko is about to show you
the progress he has made in splicing and bracing."
"Good!" said Becker, "you have been able to make something of him,
then?"
"You will see presently. Jocko, bring me a plate."
Hereupon the chimpanzee seized a bottle of Rockhouse malaga, and
filled a glass.
"He has erred on the safe side there," said Jack, drily.
"Well," added Willis, laughing, "we must let that pass. Jocko," said
he, assuming a sententious tone, "I asked you for a plate."
The chimpanzee looked at him, hesitated a moment, then seized the
glass, and drank the contents off at a single draught.
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