Лавка древностей

Chapter 48

           Beghimtocomeatonce,doyouhear?’

           Themanstaredonreceivingtheseinstructions,forthesinglegentlemanhadnotonlydisplayedasmuchastonishmentasKit’smotheratsightofthedwarf,but,standinginnofearofhim,hadbeenatlesspainstoconcealhisdislikeandrepugnance.Hedepartedonhiserrand,however,andimmediatelyreturned,usheringinitsobject.

           ‘Yourservant,sir,’saidthedwarf,‘Iencounteredyourmessengerhalf-way.Ithoughtyou’dallowmetopaymycomplimentstoyou.Ihopeyou’rewell.Ihopeyou’reverywell.’

           Therewasashortpause,whilethedwarf,withhalf-shuteyesandpuckeredface,stoodwaitingforananswer.Receivingnone,heturnedtowardshismorefamiliaracquaintance.

           ‘Christopher’smother!’hecried.‘Suchadearlady,suchaworthywoman,soblestinherhonestson!HowisChristopher’smother?Havechangeofairandsceneimprovedher?Herlittlefamilytoo,andChristopher?Dotheythrive?Dotheyflourish?Aretheygrowingintoworthycitizens,eh?’

           Makinghisvoiceascendinthescalewitheverysucceedingquestion,MrQuilpfinishedinashrillsqueak,andsubsidedintothepantinglookwhichwascustomarywithhim,andwhich,whetheritwereassumedornatural,hadequallytheeffectofbanishingallexpressionfromhisface,andrenderingit,asfarasitaffordedanyindextohismoodormeaning,aperfectblank.

           ‘MrQuilp,’saidthesinglegentleman.

           Thedwarfputhishandtohisgreatflappedear,andcounterfeitedtheclosestattention.

           ‘Wetwohavemetbefore

           ‘Surely,’criedQuilp,noddinghishead.

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