Seeing that he was up and dressed, and that the room appeared to have been occupied ever since she quitted it on the previous evening, she stopped short, in some embarrassment.
Nothing escaped the hawk′s eye of the ugly little man, who, perfectly understanding what passed in the old lady′s mind, turned uglier still in the fulness of his satisfaction, and bade her good morning, with a leer or triumph.
′Why, Betsy,′ said the old woman, ′you haven′t been—you don′t mean to say you′ve been a—′
′Sitting up all night?′ said Quilp, supplying the conclusion of the sentence. ′Yes she has!′
′All night?′ cried Mrs Jiniwin.
′Ay, all night. Is the dear old lady deaf?′ said Quilp, with a smile of which a frown was part. ′Who says man and wife are bad company? Ha ha! The time has flown.′
′You′re a brute!′ exclaimed Mrs Jiniwin.
′Come come,′ said Quilp, wilfully misunderstanding her, of course, ′you mustn′t call her names. She′s married now, you know. And though she did beguile the time and keep me from my bed, you must not be so tenderly careful of me as to be out of humour with her. Bless you for a dear old lady. Here′s to your health!′
′I am much obliged to you,′ returned the old woman, testifying by a certain restlessness in her hands a vehement desire to shake her matronly fist at her son-in-law. ′Oh! I′m very much obliged to you!′
′Grateful soul!′ cried the dwarf. ′Mrs Quilp.′
′Yes, Quilp,′ said the timid sufferer.
′Help your mother to get breakfast, Mrs Quilp. I am going to the wharf this morning—the earlier the better, so be quick.′
Mrs Jiniwin made a faint demonstration of rebellion by sitting down in a chair near the door and folding her arms as if in a resolute determination to do nothing. But a few whispered words from her daughter, and a kind inquiry from her son-in-law whether she felt faint, with a hint that there was abundance of cold water in the next apartment, routed these symptoms effectually, and she applied herself to the prescribed preparations with sullen diligence.
While they were in progress, Mr Quilp withdrew to the adjoining room, and, turning back his coat-collar, proceeded to smear his countenance with a damp towel of very unwholesome appearance, which made his complexion rather more cloudy than it was before. But, while he was thus engaged, his caution and inquisitiveness did not forsake him, for with a face as sharp and cunning as ever, he often stopped, even in this short process, and stood listening for any conversation in the next room, of which he might be the theme.
′Ah!′ he said after a short effort of attention, ′it was not the towel over my ears, I thought it wasn′t. I′m a little hunchy villain and a monster, am I, Mrs Jiniwin? Oh!′
The pleasure of this discovery called up the old doglike smile in full force. When he had quite done with it, he shook himself in a very doglike manner, and rejoined the ladies.
Mr Quilp now walked up to front of a looking-glass, and was standing there putting on his neckerchief, when Mrs Jiniwin happening to be behind him, could not resist the inclination she felt to shake her fist at her tyrant son-in-law. It was the gesture of an instant, but as she did so and accompanied the action with a menacing look, she met his eye in the glass, catching her in the very act.
© e-libr.com
feedback