Page:The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club.djvu/408

330 330 POSTHUMOUS PAPERS OF

it has to go to my landlord directly, it was as well for you to keep it as me. You promised me this afternoon, Mr. Sawyer, and every gentleman as has ever lived here has kept his word, Sir, as of course anybody as calls himself a gentleman, does." And Mrs. Raddle tossed her head, bit her lips, rubbed her hands harder, and looked at the wall more steadily than ever. It was plain to see, as Mr. Bob Sawyer remarked in a style of eastern allegory on a subsequent occasion, that she was "getting the steam up."

" I am very sorry, Mrs. Raddle," said Bob Sawyer with all imaginable humility, " but the fact is, that I have been disappointed in the City to-day." — Extraordinary place that city. We know a most astonishing number of men who always are getting disappointed there.

" Well, Mr. Sawyer," said Mrs. Raddle, planting herself firmly on a purple cauliflower in the Kidderminster carpet, " and what's that to me, Sir?"

" I — I — have no doubt, Mrs. Raddle," said Bob Sawyer, blinking this last question, " that before the middle of next week we shall be able to set ourselves quite square, and go on on a better system, afterwards."

This was all Mrs. Raddle wanted. She had bustled up to the apartment of the unlucky Bob Sawyer so bent upon going into a pas- sion, that in all probability payment would have rather disappointed her than otherwise. She was in excellent order for a little relaxation of the kind, having just exchanged a few introductory compliments with Mr. R. in the front kitchen.

" Do you suppose, Mr. Sawyer," said Mrs. Raddle, elevating her voice for the information of the*neighbours, " do you suppose that I'm a-going day after day to let a fellar occupy my lodgings as never thinks of paying his rent, nor even the very money laid out for the fresh butter and lump sugar that's bought for his breakfast, and the very milk that's took in, at the street door? Do you suppose a hard-working and industrious woman as has lived in this street for twenty years (ten years over the way, and nine years and three quarters in this very house) has nothing else to do, but to work herself to death after a parcel of lazy iale fellars, that are always smoking and drinking, and lounging, when they ought to be glad to turn their hands to anything that would help
 * em to pay their bills? Do you — "


 * ' My good soul," interposed Mr. Benjamin Allen, soothingly.

" Have the goodness to keep your observashuns to yourself Sir, I beg," said Mrs. Raddle, suddenly arresting the rapid torrent of her speech, and addressing the third party with impressive slowness and so- 1 lemnity. " I am not aweer. Sir, that you have any right to address youri conversation to me. I don't think I let these apartments to you, Sir."]


 * ' No, you certainly did not," said Mr. Benjamin Allen.

" Very good. Sir," responded Mrs. Raddle, with lofty politeness. " Then p'raps. Sir, you'll confine yourself to breaking the arms and legs of the poor people in the hospitals, and keep yourself to yourself Sir,« or there may be some persons here as will make you, Sir."

" But you are such an unreasonable woman," remonstrated Mr. Benjamin Allen. •