Лавка древностей

Chapter 4

           Besetbytheseopposingconsiderations,MrsJiniwinadmittedthepowersofinsinuation,butdeniedtherighttogovern,andwithatimelycomplimenttothestoutladybroughtbackthediscussiontothepointfromwhichithadstrayed.

           ‘Oh!It’sasensibleandproperthingindeed,whatMrsGeorgehassaid!’exclaimedtheoldlady.‘Ifwomenareonlytruetothemselves!ButBetsyisn’t,andmore’stheshameandpity.’

           ‘BeforeI’dletamanordermeaboutasQuilpordersher,’saidMrsGeorge,‘beforeI’dconsenttostandinaweofamanasshedoesofhim,I’dI’dkillmyself,andwritealetterfirsttosayhedidit!’

           Thisremarkbeingloudlycommendedandapprovedof,anotherlady(fromtheMinories)putinherword:

           ‘MrQuilpmaybeaveryniceman,’saidthislady,‘andIsupposedthere’snodoubtheis,becauseMrsQuilpsaysheis,andMrsJiniwinsaysheis,andtheyoughttoknow,ornobodydoes.Butstillheisnotquiteawhatonecallsahandsomeman,norquiteayoungmanneither,whichmightbealittleexcuseforhimifanythingcouldbe;whereashiswifeisyoung,andisgood-looking,andisawomanwhichisthegreatestthingafterall.’

           Thislastclausebeingdeliveredwithextraordinarypathos,elicitedacorrespondingmurmerfromthehearers,stimulatedbywhichtheladywentontoremarkthatifsuchahusbandwascrossandunreasonablewithsuchawife,then

           ‘Ifheis!’interposedthemother,puttingdownhertea-cupandbrushingthecrumbsoutofherlap,preparatorytomakingasolemndeclaration.

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