I′ll take bot of you, both together, both together!′
With which defiances the dwarf flourished his cudgel, and dancing round the combatants and treading upon them and skipping over them, in a kind of frenzy, laid about him, now on one and now on the other, in a most desperate manner, always aiming at their heads and dealing such blows as none but the veriest little savage would have inflicted. This being warmer work than they had calculated upon, speedily cooled the courage of the belligerents, who scrambled to their feet and called for quarter.
′I′ll beat you to a pulp, you dogs,′ said Quilp, vainly endeavoring to get near either of them for a parting blow. ′I′ll bruise you until you′re copper-coloured, I′ll break your faces till you haven′t a profile between you, I will.′
′Come, you drop that stick or it′ll be worse for you,′ said his boy, dodging round him and watching an opportunity to rush in; ′you drop that stick.′
′Come a little nearer, and I′ll drop it on your skull, you dog,′ said Quilp, with gleaming eyes; ′a little nearer—nearer yet.′
But the boy declined the invitation until his master was apparently a little off his guard, when he darted in and seizing the weapon tried to wrest it from his grasp. Quilp, who was as strong as a lion, easily kept his hold until the boy was tugging at it with his utmost power, when he suddenly let it go and sent him reeling backwards, so that he fell violently upon his head. the success of this manoeuvre tickled Mr Quilp beyond description, and he laughed and stamped upon the ground as at a most irresistible jest.
′Never mind,′ said the boy, nodding his head and rubbing it at the same time; ′you see if ever I offer to strike anybody again because they say you′re an uglier dwarf than can be seen anywheres for a penny, that′s all.′
′Do you mean to say, I′m not, you dog?′ returned Quilp.
′No!′ retorted the boy.
′Then what do you fight on my wharf for, you villain?′ said Quilp.
′Because he said so,′ replied to boy, pointing to Kit, ′not because you an′t.′
′Then why did he say,′ bawled Kit, ′that Miss Nelly was ugly, and that she and my master was obliged to do whatever his master liked? Why did he say that?′
′He said what he did because he′s a fool, and you said what you did because you′re very wise and clever—almost too clever to live, unless you′re very careful of yourself, Kit.′ said Quilp, with great suavity in his manner, but still more of quiet malice about his eyes and mouth. ′Here′s sixpence for you, Kit. Always speak the truth. At all times, Kit, speak the truth. Lock the counting-house, you dog, and bring me the key.′
The other boy, to whom this order was addresed, did as he was told, and was rewarded for his partizanship in behalf of his master, by a dexterous rap on the nose with the key, which brought the water into his eyes. Then Mr Quilp departed with the child and Kit in a boat, and the boy revenged himself by dancing on his head at intervals on the extreme verge of the wharf, during the whole time they crossed the river.
There was only Mrs Quilp at home, and she, little expecting the return of her lord, was just composing herself for a refreshing slumber when the sound of his footsteps roused her. She had barely time to seem to be occupied in some needle-work, when he entered, accompanied by the child; having left Kit downstairs.
′Here′s Nelly Trent, dear Mrs Quilp,′ said her husband.
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