CHAPTER 3

pantomimethatwasnecessaryforthedueconveyanceofthisidea,hecasthimselfuponhisfriend’strack,andvanished. ‘Humph!’saidthedwarfwithasourlookandashrugofhisshoulders,‘somuchfordearrelations.ThankGodIacknowledgenone!Norneedyoueither,’headded,turningtotheoldman,‘ifyouwerenotasweakasareed,andnearlyassenseless.’ ‘Whatwouldyouhavemedo?’heretortedinakindofhelplessdesperation.‘Itiseasytotalkandsneer.Whatwouldyouhavemedo?’ ‘WhatwouldIdoifIwasinyourcase?’saidthedwarf. ‘Somethingviolent,nodoubt.’ ‘You’rerightthere,’returnedthelittleman,highlygratifiedbythecompliment,forsuchheevidentlyconsidereditandgrinninglikeadevilasherubbedhisdirtyhandstogether.‘AskMrsQuilp,prettyMrsQuilp,obedient,timid,lovingMrsQuilp.Butthatremindsme—Ihaveleftherallalone,andshewillbeanxiousandknownotamoment’speacetillIreturn.Iknowshe’salwaysinthatconditionwhenI’maway,thoughtshedoesn’tdaretosayso,unlessIleadheronandtellhershemayspeakfreelyandIwon’tbeangrywithher.Oh!well-trainedMrsQuilp.’ Thecreatureappearedquitehorriblewithhismonstrousheadandlittlebody,asherubbedhishandsslowlyround,andround,androundagain—withsomethingfantasticeveninhismannerofperformingthisslightaction—and,droppinghisshaggybrowsandcockinghischinintheair,glancedupwardwithastealthylookofexultationthatanimpmighthavecopiedandappropriatedtohimself. ‘Here,’hesaid,puttinghishandintohisbreastandsidlinguptotheoldmanashespoke‘Ibroughtitmyselfforfearofaccidents,as,beingingold,itwassomethinglargeandheavyforNelltocarryinherbag.Sheneedbeaccustomedtosuchloadsbetimesthough,neighbor,forshewillcarryweightwhenyouaredead.’ ‘Heavensendshemay!Ihopeso,’saidtheoldmanwithsomethinglikeagroan. ‘Hopeso!’echoedthedwarf,approachingclosetohisear‘neighbour,IwouldIknewinwhatgoodinvestmentallthesesuppliesaresunk.Butyouareadeepman,andkeepyoursecretclose.’ ‘Mysecret!’saidtheotherwithahaggardlook.‘Yes,you’reright—I—I—keepitclose—veryclose.’ Hesaidnomore,buttakingthemoneyturnedawaywithaslow,uncertainstep,andpressedhishanduponhisheadlikeawearyanddejectedman.Thedwarfwatchedhimsharply,whilehepassedintothelittlesitting-roomandlockeditinanironsafeabovethechimney-pieceandaftermusingforashortspace,preparedtotakehisleave,observingthatunlesshemadegoodhaste,MrsQuilpwouldcertainlybeinfitsonhisreturn. ‘Andso,neighbour,’headded,‘I’llturnmyfacehomewards,leavingmyloveforNellyandhopingshemayneverloseherwayagain,thoughherdoingsohasprocuredmeanhonourIdidn’texpect.’Withthathebowedandleeredatme,andwithakeenglancearoundwhichseemedtocomprehendeveryobjectwithinhisrangeofvision,however,smallortrivial,wenthisway.