Chapter 7 - Page 2

sometimes declared, if she could only have good security for a fair, round numbera€"say ten thousanda€"of young virgins following her example, she would, to spite mankind, hang, drown, stab, or poison herself, with a joy past all expression.

It was the voice of Miggs that greeted the locksmith, when he knocked at his own house, with a shrill cry of a€˜Whoa€™s there?a€™

a€˜Me, girl, me,a€™ returned Gabriel.

a€˜What, already, sir!a€™ said Miggs, opening the door with a look of surprise. a€˜We were just getting on our nightcaps to sit up,a€"me and mistress. Oh, she has been so bad!a€™

Miggs said this with an air of uncommon candour and concern; but the parlour-door was standing open, and as Gabriel very well knew for whose ears it was designed, he regarded her with anything but an approving look as he passed in.

a€˜Mastera€™s come home, mim,a€™ cried Miggs, running before him into the parlour. a€˜You was wrong, mim, and I was right. I thought he wouldna€™t keep us up so late, two nights running, mim. Mastera€™s always considerate so far. Ia€™m so glad, mim, on your account. Ia€™m a littlea€™a€"here Miggs simpereda€"a€™a little sleepy myself; Ia€™ll own it now, mim, though I said I wasna€™t when you asked me. It aina€™t of no consequence, mim, of course.a€™

a€˜You had better,a€™ said the locksmith, who most devoutly wished that Barnabya€™s raven was at Miggsa€™s ankles, a€˜you had better get to bed at once then.a€™

a€˜Thanking you kindly, sir,a€™ returned Miggs, a€˜I couldna€™t take my rest in peace, nor fix my thoughts upon my prayers, otherways than that I knew mistress was comfortable in her bed this night; by rights she ought to have been there, hours ago.a€™

a€˜Youa€™re talkative, mistress,a€™ said Varden, pulling off his greatcoat, and looking at her askew.

a€˜Taking the hint, sir,a€™ cried Miggs, with a flushed face, a€˜and thanking you for it most kindly, I will make bold to say, that if I give offence by having consideration for my mistress, I do not ask your pardon, but am content to get myself into trouble and to be in suffering.a€™

Here Mrs Varden, who, with her countenance shrouded in a large nightcap, had been all this time intent upon the Protestant Manual, looked round, and acknowledged Miggsa€™s championship by commanding her to hold her tongue.

Every little bone in Miggsa€™s throat and neck developed itself with a