One grumbler in a family is as pestilent a thing as a diseased animal in a herd: if he be not shut up or killed, the herd is lost.

"'Tis a xebec," growled the master, who was one of the grumblers of the day"a fellow with his hold crammed with a wine that would cover the handsomest woman's face in Lunnun with wrinkles.

Children begin by being good-natured little grumblers at every thing which goes wrong, simply from the outspokenness of their natures.

His face was ardent, his pantaloons were of white flannel, his expression of countenance was that of habitual discontent, but with a twinkle of geniality in the eye which redeemed the Grumbler from the usual tedium of his tribe.