Chapter XXXIX

by Charles Dickens

　　Introduces Some Respectable Characters With Whom the Reader is AlreadyAcquainted, and Shows How Monks and the Jew Laid Their Worthy Heads TogetherOn the evening following that upon which the three worthiesmentioned in the last chapter, disposed of their little matter ofbusiness as therein narrated, Mr. William Sikes, awakening from anap, drowsily growled forth an inquiry what time of night it was.The room in which Mr. Sikes propounded this question, was not oneof those he had tenanted, previous to the Chertsey expedition,although it was in the same quarter of the town, and was situatedat no great distance from his former lodgings. It was not, inappearance, so desirable a habitation as his old quarters: beinga mean and badly-furnished apartment, of very limited size;lighted only by one small window in the shelving roof, andabutting on a close and dirty lane. Nor were there wanting otherindications of the good gentleman's having gone down in the worldof late: for a great scarcity of furniture, and total absence ofcomfort, together with the disappearance of all such smallmoveables as spare clothes and linen, bespoke a state of extremepoverty; while the meagre and attenuated condition of Mr. Sikeshimself would have fully confirmed these symptoms, if they hadstood in any need of corroboration.The housebreaker was lying on the bed, wrapped in his whitegreat-coat, by way of dressing-gown, and displaying a set offeatures in no degree improved by the cadaverous hue of illness,and the addition of a soiled nightcap, and a stiff, black beardof a week's growth. The dog sat at the bedside: now eyeing hismaster with a wistful look, and now pricking his ears, anduttering a low growl as some noise in the street, or in the lowerpart of the house, attracted his attention. Seated by thewindow, busily engaged in patching an old waistcoat which formeda portion of the robber's ordinary dress, was a female: so paleand reduced with watching and privation, that there would havebeen considerable difficulty in recognising her as the same Nancywho has already figured in this tale, but for the voice in whichshe replied to Mr. Sikes's question.'Not long gone seven,' said the girl. 'How do you feel to-night,Bill?''As weak as water,' replied Mr. Sikes, with an imprecation on hiseyes and limbs. 'Here; lend us a hand, and let me get off thisthundering bed anyhow.'Illness had not improved Mr. Sikes's temper; for, as the girlraised him up and led him to a chair, he muttered various curseson her awkwardnewss, and struck her.'Whining are you?' said Sikes. 'Come! Don't stand snivellingthere. If you can't do anything better than that, cut offaltogether. D'ye hear me?''I hear you,' replied the girl, turning her face aside, andforcing a laugh. 'What fancy have you got in your head now?''Oh! you've thought better of it, have you?' growled Sikes,marking the tear which trembled in her eye. 'All the better foryou, you have.''Why, you don't mean to say, you'd be hard upon me to-night,Bill,' said the girl, laying her hand upon his shoulder.'No!' cried Mr. Sikes. 'Why not?''Such a number of nights,' said the girl, with a touch of woman'stenderness, which communicated something like sweetness of tone,even to her voice: 'such a number of nights as I've been patientwith you, nursing and caring for you, as if you had been a child:and this the first that I've seen you like yourself; you wouldn'thave served me as you did just now, if you'd thought of that,would you? Come, come; say you wouldn't.''Well, then,' rejoined Mr. Sikes, 'I wouldn't. Why, damme, now,the girls's whining again!''It's nothing,' said the girl, throwing herself into a chair.'Don't you seem to mind me. It'll soon be over.''What'll be over?' demanded Mr. Sikes in a savage voice. 'Whatfoolery are you up to, now, again? Get up and bustle about, anddon't come over me with your woman's nonsense.'At any other time, this remonstrance, and the tone in which itwas delivered, would have had the desired effect; but the girlbeing really weak and exhausted, dropped her head over the backof the chair, and fainted, before Mr. Sikes could get out a fewof the appropriate oaths with which, on similar occasions, he wasaccustomed to garnish his threats. Not knowing, very well, whatto do, in this uncommon emergency; for Miss Nancy's hystericswere usually of that violent kind which the patient fights andstruggles out of, without much assistance; Mr. Sikes tried alittle blasphemy: and finding that mode of treatment whollyineffectual, called for assistance.'What's the matter here, my dear?' said Fagin, looking in.'Lend a hand to the girl, can't you?' replied Sikes impatiently.'Don't stand chattering and grinning at me!'With an exclamation of surprise, Fagin hastened to the girl'sassistance, while Mr. John Dawkins (otherwise the Artful Dodger),who had followed his venerable friend into the room, hastilydeposited on the floor a bundle with which he was laden; andsnatching a bottle from the grasp of Master Charles Bates whocame close at his heels, uncorked it in a twinkling with histeeth, and poured a portion of its contents down the patient'sthroat: previously taking a taste, himself, to prevent mistakes.'Give her a whiff of fresh air with the bellows, Charley,' saidMr. Dawkins; 'and you slap her hands, Fagin, while Bill undoesthe petticuts.'These united restoratives, administered with great energy:especially that department consigned to Master Bates, whoappeared to consider his share in the proceedings, a piece ofunexampled pleasantry: were not long in producing the desiredeffect. The girl gradually recovered her senses; and, staggeringto a chair by the bedside, hid her face upon the pillow: leavingMr. Sikes to confront the new comers, in some astonishment attheir unlooked-for appearance.'Why, what evil wind has blowed you here?' he asked Fagin.'No evil wind at all, my dear, for evil winds blow nobody anygood; and I've brought something good with me, that you'll beglad to see. Dodger, my dear, open the bundle; and give Bill thelittle trifles that we spent all our money on, this morning.'In compliance with Mr. Fagin's request, the Artful untied thisbundle, which was of large size, and formed of an oldtable-cloth; and handed the articles it contained, one by one, toCharley Bates: who placed them on the table, with variousencomiums on their rarity and excellence.'Sitch a rabbit pie, Bill,' exclaimed that young gentleman,disclosing to view a huge pasty; 'sitch delicate creeturs, withsitch tender limbs, Bill, that the wery bones melt in your mouth,and there's no occasion to pick 'em; half a pound of seven andsix-penny green, so precious strong that if you mix it withbiling water, it'll go nigh to blow the lid of the tea-pot off; apound and a half of moist sugar that the niggers didn't work atall at, afore they got it up to sitch a pitch of goodness,--ohno! Two half-quartern brans; pound of best fresh; piece ofdouble Glo'ster; and, to wind up all, some of the richest sortyou ever lushed!'Uttering this last panegyrie, Master Bates produced, from one ofhis extensive pockets, a full-sized wine-bottle, carefullycorked; while Mr. Dawkins, at the same instant, poured out awine-glassful of raw spirits from the bottle he carried: whichthe invalid tossed down his throat without a moment's hesitation.'Ah!' said Fagin, rubbing his hands with great satisfaction.'You'll do, Bill; you'll do now.''Do!' exclaimed Mr. Sikes; 'I might have been done for, twentytimes over, afore you'd have done anything to help me. What doyou mean by leaving a man in this state, three weeks and more,you false-hearted wagabond?''Only hear him, boys!' said Fagin, shrugging his shoulders. 'Andus come to bring him all these beau-ti-ful things.''The things is well enough in their way,' observed Mr. Sikes: alittle soothed as he glanced over the table; 'but what have yougot to say for yourself, why you should leave me here, down inthe mouth, health, blunt, and everything else; and take no morenotice of me, all this mortal time, than if I was that 'eredog.--Drive him down, Charley!''I never see such a jolly dog as that,' cried Master Bates, doingas he was desired. 'Smelling the grub like a old lady a going tomarket! He'd make his fortun' on the stage that dog would, andrewive the drayma besides.''Hold your din,' cried Sikes, as the dog retreated under the bed:still growling angrily. 'What have you got to say for yourself,you withered old fence, eh?''I was away from London, a week and more, my dear, on a plant,'replied the Jew.'And what about the other fortnight?' demanded Sikes. 'Whatabout the other fortnight that you've left me lying here, like asick rat in his hole?''I couldn't help it, Bill. I can't go into a long explanationbefore company; but I couldn't help it, upon my honour.''Upon your what?' growled Sikes, with excessive disgust. 'Here!Cut me off a piece of that pie, one of you boys, to take thetaste of that out of my mouth, or it'll choke me dead.''Don't be out of temper, my dear,' urged Fagin, submissively. 'Ihave never forgot you, Bill; never once.''No! I'll pound it that you han't,' replied Sikes, with a bittergrin. 'You've been scheming and plotting away, every hour that Ihave laid shivering and burning here; and Bill was to do this;and Bill was to do that; and Bill was to do it all, dirt cheap,as soon as he got well: and was quite poor enough for your work.If it hadn't been for the girl, I might have died.''There now, Bill,' remonstrated Fagin, eagerly catching at theword. 'If it hadn't been for the girl! Who but poor ould Faginwas the means of your having such a handy girl about you?''He says true enough there!' said Nancy, coming hastily forward.'Let him be; let him be.'Nancy's appearance gave a new turn to the conversation; for theboys, receiving a sly wink from the wary old Jew, began to plyher with liquor: of which, however, she took very sparingly;while Fagin, assuming an unusual flow of spirits, graduallybrought Mr. Sikes into a better temper, by affecting to regardhis threats as a little pleasant banter; and, moreover, bylaughing very heartily at one or two rough jokes, which, afterrepeated applications to the spirit-bottle, he condescended tomake.'It's all very well,' said Mr. Sikes; 'but I must have some bluntfrom you to-night.''I haven't a piece of coin about me,' replied the Jew.'Then you've got lots at home,' retorted Sikes; 'and I must havesome from there.''Lots!' cried Fagin, holding up is hands. 'I haven't so much aswould--''I don't know how much you've got, and I dare say you hardly knowyourself, as it would take a pretty long time to count it,' saidSikes; 'but I must have some to-night; and that's flat.''Well, well,' said Fagin, with a sigh, 'I'll send the Artfulround presently.''You won't do nothing of the kind,' rejoined Mr. Sikes. 'TheArtful's a deal too artful, and would forget to come, or lose hisway, or get dodged by traps and so be perwented, or anything foran excuse, if you put him up to it. Nancy shall go to the kenand fetch it, to make all sure; and I'll lie down and have asnooze while she's gone.'After a great deal of haggling and squabbling, Fagin beat downthe amount of the required advance from five pounds to threepounds four and sixpence: protesting with many solemnasseverations that that would only leave him eighteen-pence tokeep house with; Mr. Sikes sullenly remarking that if he couldn'tget any more he must accompany him home; with the Dodger andMaster Bates put the eatables in the cupboard. The Jew then,taking leave of his affectionate friend, returned homeward,attended by Nancy and the boys: Mr. Sikes, meanwhile, flinginghimself on the bed, and composing himself to sleep away the timeuntil the young lady's return.In due course, they arrived at Fagin's abode, where they foundToby Crackit and Mr. Chitling intent upon their fifteenth game atcribbage, which it is scarcely necessary to say the lattergentleman lost, and with it, his fifteenth and last sixpence:much to the amusement of his young friends. Mr. Crackit,apparently somewhat ashamed at being found relaxing himself witha gentleman so much his inferior in station and mentalendowments, yawned, and inquiring after Sikes, took up his hat togo.'Has nobody been, Toby?' asked Fagin.'Not a living leg,' answered Mr. Crackit, pulling up his collar;'it's been as dull as swipes. You ought to stand somethinghandsome, Fagin, to recompense me for keeping house so long.Damme, I'm as flat as a juryman; and should have gone to sleep,as fast as Newgate, if I hadn't had the good natur' to amuse thisyoungster. Horrid dull, I'm blessed if I an't!'With these and other ejaculations of the same kind, Mr. TobyCrackit swept up his winnings, and crammed them into hiswaistcoat pocket with a haughty air, as though such small piecesof silver were wholly beneath the consideration of a man of hisfigure; this done, he swaggered out of the room, with so muchelegance and gentility, that Mr. Chitling, bestowing numerousadmiring glances on his legs and boots till they were out ofsight, assured the company that he considered his acquaintancecheap at fifteen sixpences an interview, and that he didn't valuehis losses the snap of his little finger.'Wot a rum chap you are, Tom!' said Master Bates, highly amusedby this declaration.'Not a bit of it,' replied Mr. Chitling. 'Am I, Fagin?''A very clever fellow, my dear,' said Fagin, patting him on theshoulder, and winking to his other pupils.'And Mr. Crackit is a heavy swell; an't he, Fagin?' asked Tom.'No doubt at all of that, my dear.''And it is a creditable thing to have his acquaintance; an't it,Fagin?' pursued Tom.'Very much so, indeed, my dear. They're only jealous, Tom,because he won't give it to them.''Ah!' cried Tom, triumphantly, 'that's where it is! He hascleaned me out. But I can go and earn some more, when I like;can't I, Fagin?''To be sure you can, and the sooner you go the better, Tom; somake up your loss at once, and don't lose any more time. Dodger!Charley! It's time you were on the lay. Come! It's near ten,and nothing done yet.'In obedience to this hint, the boys, nodding to Nancy, took uptheir hats, and left the room; the Dodger and his vivaciousfriend indulging, as they went, in many witticisms at the expenseof Mr. Chitling; in whose conduct, it is but justice to say,there was nothing very conspicuous or peculiar: inasmuch asthere are a great number of spirited young bloods upon town, whopay a much higher price than Mr. Chitling for being seen in goodsociety: and a great number of fine gentlemen (composing thegood society aforesaid) who established their reputation uponvery much the same footing as flash Toby Crackit.'Now,' said Fagin, when they had left the room, 'I'll go and getyou that cash, Nancy. This is only the key of a little cupboardwhere I keep a few odd things the boys get, my dear. I neverlock up my money, for I've got none to lock up, my dear--ha! ha!ha!--none to lock up. It's a poor trade, Nancy, and no thanks;but I'm fond of seeing the young people about me; and I bear itall, I bear it all. Hush!' he said, hastily concealing the keyin his breast; 'who's that? Listen!'The girl, who was sitting at the table with her arms folded,appeared in no way interested in the arrival: or to care whetherthe person, whoever he was, came or went: until the murmur of aman's voice reached her ears. The instant she caught the sound,she tore off her bonnet and shawl, with the rapidity oflightning, and thrust them under the table. The Jew, turninground immediately afterwards, she muttered a complaint of theheat: in a tone of languor that contrasted, very remarkably,with the extreme haste and violence of this action: which,however, had been unobserved by Fagin, who had his back towardsher at the time.'Bah!' he whispered, as though nettled by the interruption; 'it'sthe man I expected before; he's coming downstairs. Not a wordabout the money while he's here, Nance. He won't stop long. Notten minutes, my dear.'Laying his skinny forefinger upon his lip, the Jew carried acandle to the door, as a man's step was heard upon the stairswithout. He reached it, at the same moment as the visitor, who,coming hastily into the room, was close upon the girl before heobserved her.It was Monks.'Only one of my young people,' said Fagin, observing that Monksdrew back, on beholding a stranger. 'Don't move, Nancy.'The girl drew closer to the table, and glancing at Monks with anair of careless levity, withdrew her eyes; but as he turnedtowards Fagin, she stole another look; so keen and searching, andfull of purpose, that if there had been any bystander to observethe change, he could hardly have believed the two looks to haveproceeded from the same person.'Any news?' inquired Fagin.'Great.''And--and--good?' asked Fagin, hesitating as though he feared tovex the other man by being too sanguine.'Not bad, any way,' replied Monks with a smile. 'I have beenprompt enough this time. Let me have a word with you.'The girl drew closer to the table, and made no offer to leave theroom, although she could see that Monks was pointing to her. TheJew: perhaps fearing she might say something aloud about themoney, if he endeavoured to get rid of her: pointed upward, andtook Monks out of the room.'Not that infernal hole we were in before,' she could hear theman say as they went upstairs. Fagin laughed; and making somereply which did not reach her, seemed, by the creaking of theboards, to lead his companion to the second story.Before the sound of their footsteps had ceased to echo throughthe house, the girl had slipped off her shoes; and drawing hergown loosely over her head, and muffling her arms in it, stood atthe door, listening with breathless interest. The moment thenoise ceased, she glided from the room; ascended the stairs withincredible softness and silence; and was lost in the gloom above.The room remained deserted for a quarter of an hour or more; thegirl glided back with the same unearthly tread; and, immediatelyafterwards, the two men were heard descending. Monks went atonce into the street; and the Jew crawled upstairs again for themoney. When he returned, the girl was adjusting her shawl andbonnet, as if preparing to be gone.'Why, Nance!,' exclaimed the Jew, starting back as he put downthe candle, 'how pale you are!''Pale!' echoed the girl, shading her eyes with her hands, as ifto look steadily at him.'Quite horrible. What have you been doing to yourself?''Nothing that I know of, except sitting in this close place for Idon't know how long and all,' replied the girl carelessly.'Come! Let me get back; that's a dear.'With a sigh for every piece of money, Fagin told the amount intoher hand. They parted without more conversation, merelyinterchanging a 'good-night.'When the girl got into the open street, she sat down upon adoorstep; and seemed, for a few moments, wholly bewildered andunable to pursue her way. Suddenly she arose; and hurrying on,in a direction quite opposite to that in which Sikes was awaitingher returned, quickened her pace, until it gradually resolvedinto a violent run. After completely exhausting herself, shestopped to take breath: and, as if suddenly recollectingherself, and deploring her inability to do something she was bentupon, wrung her hands, and burst into tears.It might be that her tears relieved her, or that she felt thefull hopelessness of her condition; but she turned back; andhurrying with nearly as great rapidity in the contrary direction;partly to recover lost time, and partly to keep pace with theviolent current of her own thoughts: soon reached the dwellingwhere she had left the housebreaker.If she betrayed any agitation, when she presented herself to Mr.Sikes, he did not observe it; for merely inquiring if she hadbrought the money, and receiving a reply in the affirmative, heuttered a growl of satisfaction, and replacing his head upon thepillow, resumed the slumbers which her arrival had interrupted.It was fortunate for her that the possession of money occasionedhim so much employment next day in the way of eating anddrinking; and withal had so beneficial an effect in smoothingdown the asperities of his temper; that he had neither time norinclination to be very critical upon her behaviour anddeportment. That she had all the abstracted and nervous mannerof one who is on the eve of some bold and hazardous step, whichit has required no common struggle to resolve upon, would havebeen obvious to the lynx-eyed Fagin, who would most probably havetaken the alarm at once; but Mr. Sikes lacking the niceties ofdiscrimination, and being troubled with no more subtle misgivingsthan those which resolve themselves into a dogged roughness ofbehaviour towards everybody; and being, furthermore, in anunusually amiable condition, as has been already observed; sawnothing unusual in her demeanor, and indeed, troubled himself solittle about her, that, had her agitation been far moreperceptible than it was, it would have been very unlikely to haveawakened his suspicions.As that day closed in, the girl's excitement increased; and, whennight came on, and she sat by, watching until the housebreakershould drink himself asleep, there was an unusual paleness in hercheek, and a fire in her eye, that even Sikes observed withastonishment.Mr. Sikes being weak from the fever, was lying in bed, taking hotwater with his gin to render it less inflammatory; and had pushedhis glass towards Nancy to be replenished for the third or fourthtime, when these symptoms first struck him.'Why, burn my body!' said the man, raising himself on his handsas he stared the girl in the face. 'You look like a corpse cometo life again. What's the matter?''Matter!' replied the girl. 'Nothing. What do you look at me sohard for?''What foolery is this?' demanded Sikes, grasping her by the arm,and shaking her roughly. 'What is it? What do you mean? Whatare you thinking of?''Of many things, Bill,' replied the girl, shivering, and as shedid so, pressing her hands upon her eyes. 'But, Lord! What oddsin that?'The tone of forced gaiety in which the last words were spoken,seemd to produce a deeper impression on Sikes than the wild andrigid look which had preceded them.'I tell you wot it is,' said Sikes; 'if you haven't caught thefever, and got it comin' on, now, there's something more thanusual in the wind, and something dangerous too. You're nota-going to--. No, damme! you wouldn't do that!''Do what?' asked the girl.'There ain't,' said Sikes, fixing his eyes upon her, andmuttering the words to himself; 'there ain't a stauncher-heartedgal going, or I'd have cut her throat three months ago. She'sgot the fever coming on; that's it.'Fortifying himself with this assurance, Sikes drained the glassto the bottom, and then, with many grumbling oaths, called forhis physic. The girl jumped up, with great alacrity; poured itquickly out, but with her back towards him; and held the vesselto his lips, while he drank off the contents.'Now,' said the robber, 'come and sit aside of me, and put onyour own face; or I'll alter it so, that you won't know it aginwhen you do want it.'The girl obeyed. Sikes, locking her hand in his, fell back uponthe pillow: turning his eyes upon her face. They closed; openedagain; closed once more; again opened. He shifted his positionrestlessly; and, after dozing again, and again, for two or threeminutes, and as often springing up with a look of terror, andgazing vacantly about him, was suddenly stricken, as it were,while in the very attitude of rising, into a deep and heavysleep. The grasp of his hand relaxed; the upraised arm felllanguidly by his side; and he lay like one in a profound trance.'The laudanum has taken effect at last,' murmured the girl, asshe rose from the bedside. 'I may be too late, even now.'She hastily dressed herself in her bonnet and shawl: lookingfearfully round, from time to time, as if, despite the sleepingdraught, she expected every moment to feel the pressure ofSikes's heavy hand upon her shoulder; then, stooping softly overthe bed, she kissed the robber's lips; and then opening andclosing the room-door with noiseless touch, hurried from thehouse.A watchman was crying half-past nine, down a dark passage throughwhich she had to pass, in gaining the main thoroughfare.'Has it long gone the half-hour?' asked the girl.'It'll strike the hour in another quarter,' said the man:raising his lantern to her face.'And I cannot get there in less than an hour or more,' mutteredNancy: brushing swiftly past him, and gliding rapidly down thestreet.Many of the shops were already closing in the back lanes andavenues through which she tracked her way, in making fromSpitalfields towards the West-End of London. The clock struckten, increasing her impatience. She tore along the narrowpavement: elbowing the passengers from side to side; and dartingalmost under the horses' heads, crossed crowded streets, whereclusters of persons were eagerly watching their opportunity to dothe like.'The woman is mad!' said the people, turning to look after her asshe rushed away.When she reached the more wealthy quarter of the town, thestreets were comparatively deserted; and here her headlongprogress excited a still greater curiosity in the stragglers whomshe hurried past. Some quickened their pace behind, as though tosee whither she was hastening at such an unusual rate; and a fewmade head upon her, and looked back, surprised at herundiminished speed; but they fell off one by one; and when sheneared her place of destination, she was alone.It was a family hotel in a quiet but handsome street near HydePark. As the brilliant light of the lamp which burnt before itsdoor, guided her to the spot, the clock struck eleven. She hadloitered for a few paces as though irresolute, and making up hermind to advance; but the sound determined her, and she steppedinto the hall. The porter's seat was vacant. She looked roundwith an air of incertitude, and advanced towards the stairs.'Now, young woman!' said a smartly-dressed female, looking outfrom a door behind her, 'who do you want here?''A lady who is stopping in this house,' answered the girl.'A lady!' was the reply, accompanied with a scornful look. 'Whatlady?''Miss Maylie,' said Nancy.The young woman, who had by this time, noted her appearance,replied only by a look of virtuous disdain; and summoned a man toanswer her. To him, Nancy repeated her request.'What name am I to say?' asked the waiter.'It's of no use saying any,' replied Nancy.'Nor business?' said the man.'No, nor that neither,' rejoined the girl. 'I must see thelady.''Come!' said the man, pushing her towards the door. 'None ofthis. Take yourself off.''I shall be carried out if I go!' said the girl violently; 'and Ican make that a job that two of you won't like to do. Isn'tthere anybody here,' she said, looking round, 'that will see asimple message carried for a poor wretch like me?'This appeal produced an effect on a good-tempered-faced man-cook,who with some of the other servants was looking on, and whostepped forward to interfere.'Take it up for her, Joe; can't you?' said this person.'What's the good?' replied the man. 'You don't suppose the younglady will see such as her; do you?'This allusion to Nancy's doubtful character, raised a vastquantity of chaste wrath in the bosoms of four housemaids, whoremarked, with great fervour, that the creature was a disgrace toher sex; and strongly advocated her being thrown, ruthlessly,into the kennel.'Do what you like with me,' said the girl, turning to the menagain; 'but do what I ask you first, and I ask you to give thismessage for God Almighty's sake.'The soft-hearted cook added his intercession, and the result wasthat the man who had first appeared undertook its delivery.'What's it to be?' said the man, with one foot on the stairs.'That a young woman earnestly asks to speak to Miss Mayliealone,' said Nancy; 'and that if the lady will only hear thefirst word she has to say, she will know whether to hear herbusiness, or to have her turned out of doors as an impostor.''I say,' said the man, 'you're coming it strong!''You give the message,' said the girl firmly; 'and let me hearthe answer.'The man ran upstairs. Nancy remained, pale and almostbreathless, listening with quivering lip to the very audibleexpressions of scorn, of which the chaste housemaids were veryprolific; and of which they became still more so, when the manreturned, and said the young woman was to walk upstairs.'It's no good being proper in this world,' said the firsthousemaid.'Brass can do better than the gold what has stood the fire,' saidthe second.The third contented herself with wondering 'what ladies was madeof'; and the fourth took the first in a quartette of 'Shameful!'with which the Dianas concluded.Regardless of all this: for she had weightier matters at heart:Nancy followed the man, with trembling limbs, to a smallante-chamber, lighted by a lamp from the ceiling. Here he lefther, and retired.