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AND THE GHOST'S BARGAIN. |
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alarm of engines at her mother's, when she went two miles in her nightcap. Mrs. William may be taken off her balance by Water; as at Battersea, when rowed into the piers by her young nephew, Charley Swidger junior, aged twelve, which had no idea of boats whatever. But these are elements. Mrs. William must be taken out of elements for the strength of her character to come into play."
As he stopped for a reply, the reply was " Yes," in the same tone as before.
" Yes, Sir. Oh dear, yes !" said Mr. Swidger, still proceeding with his preparations, and checking them off as he made them. u That's where it is, Sir. That's what I always say myself, Sir. Such a many of us Swidgers !—Pepper. Why there's my father, Sir, superannuated keeper and custodian of this Institution, eigh-ty-seven year old. He's a Swidger !—Spoon."
" True, William," was the patient and abstracted answer, when he stopped again.
"Yes, Sir," said Mr. Swidger. "That's what I always say, Sir. You may call him the trunk of the tree !—Bread. Then you come to his successor, my unworthy self—Salt—and Mrs. William, Swidgers both. — Knife and fork. Then you come to all my brothers and their families, Swidgers, man and woman, boy and girl. Why, what with cousins, uncles, aunts, and relationships of this, that, and t'other degree, and what-not degree, and marriages, and lyings-in, the Swidgers—Tumbler—might take hold of hands, and make a ring round England ! "
Receiving no reply at all here, from the thoughtful man whom he addressed, Mr. William approached him nearer, and made a feint of accidentally knocking the table with a decanter, to rouse him. The moment he succeeded, he went on, as if in great alacrity of acquiescence.
" Yes, Sir ! That's just what I say myself, Sir. Mrs. William and me have often said so. ' There's Swidgers enough,' we say, ' without our voluntary contributions,'—Butter. In fact, Sir, my father is a family in himself—Castors—to take care of; and it happens all for the best that we have no child of our own, though it's made Mrs. William rather quiet-like, too. Quite ready for the fowl and mashed potatoes, Sir ? Mrs. William said she'd dish in ten minutes when I left the Lodge."
"I am quite ready," said the other, waking as from a dream, and walking slowly to and fro.
" Mrs. William has been at it again, Sir !" said the keeper, as he stood warming a plate at the fire, and pleasantly shading his face with it. Mr. Redlaw stopped in his walking, and an expression of interest appeared in him. |
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