Лавка древностей

Chapter 13

           Nottobebehind-handinthebustle,MrQuilpwenttoworkwithsurprisingvigour;hustlinganddrivingthepeopleabout,likeanevilspirit;settingMrsQuilpuponallkindsofarduousandimpracticabletasks;carryinggreatweightsupanddown,withnoapparenteffort;kickingtheboyfromthewharf,wheneverhecouldgetnearhim;andinflicting,withhisloads,agreatmanyslybumpsandblowsontheshouldersofMrBrass,ashestooduponthedoor-stepstoansweralltheinquiriesofcuriousneighbours,whichwashisdepartment.Hispresenceandexamplediffusedsuchalacrityamongthepersonsemployed,that,inafewhours,thehousewasemptiedofeverything,butpiecesofmatting,emptyporter-pots,andscatteredfragmentsofstraw.

           Seated,likeanAfricanchief,ononeofthesepiecesofmatting,thedwarfwasregalinghimselfintheparlour,withbreadandcheeseandbeer,whenheobservedwithoutappearingtodoso,thataboywaspryinginattheouterdoor.AssuredthatitwasKit,thoughhesawlittlemorethanhisnose,MrQuilphailedhimbyhisname;whereuponKitcameinanddemandedwhathewanted.

           ‘Comehere,yousir,’saidthedwarf.‘Well,soyouroldmasterandyoungmistresshavegone?’

           ‘Where?’rejoinedKit,lookinground.

           ‘Doyoumeantosayyoudon’tknowwhere?’answeredQuilpsharply.‘Wherehavetheygone,eh?’

           ‘Idon’tknow,’saidKit.

           ‘Come,’retortedQuilp,‘let’shavenomoreofthis!Doyoumeantosaythatyoudon’tknowtheywentawaybystealth,assoonasitwaslightthismorning?’

           ‘No,’saidtheboy,inevidentsurprise.

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