No answer.
‘That’s about what it is a’ready,
you see,’ muttered Riderhood in a lower and
a different voice; ‘a coat over you, a coat over
you!’
The sleeper moving an arm, he sat down again in his
chair, and feigned to watch the storm from the window.
It was a grand spectacle, but not so grand as to keep
his eyes, for half a minute together, from stealing
a look at the man upon the bed.
It was at the concealed throat of the sleeper that
Riderhood so often looked so curiously, until the
sleep seemed to deepen into the stupor of the dead-tired
in mind and body. Then, Riderhood came from the
window cautiously, and stood by the bed.
‘Poor man!’ he murmured in a low tone,
with a crafty face, and a very watchful eye and ready
foot, lest he should start up; ’this here coat
of his must make him uneasy in his sleep. Shall
I loosen it for him, and make him more comfortable?
Ah! I think I ought to do it, poor man. I
think I will.’
He touched the first button with a very cautious hand,
and a step backward. But, the sleeper remaining
in profound unconsciousness, he touched the other
buttons with a more assured hand, and perhaps the more
lightly on that account. Softly and slowly, he
opened the coat and drew it back.
The draggling ends of a bright-red neckerchief were
then disclosed, and he had even been at the pains
of dipping parts of it in some liquid, to give it
the appearance of having become stained by wear.
With a much-perplexed face, Riderhood looked from
it to the sleeper, and from the sleeper to it, and
finally crept back to his chair, and there, with his
hand to his chin, sat long in a brown study, looking
at both.
THE GOLDEN DUSTMAN RISES A LITTLE
Mr and Mrs Lammle had come to breakfast with Mr and
Mrs Boffin. They were not absolutely uninvited,
but had pressed themselves with so much urgency on
the golden couple, that evasion of the honour and pleasure
of their company would have been difficult, if desired.
They were in a charming state of mind, were Mr and
Mrs Lammle, and almost as fond of Mr and Mrs Boffin
as of one another.
‘My dear Mrs Boffin,’ said Mrs Lammle,
’it imparts new life to me, to see my Alfred
in confidential communication with Mr Boffin.
The two were formed to become intimate. So much
simplicity combined with so much force of character,
such natural sagacity united to such amiability and
gentleness—these are the distinguishing
characteristics of both.’
This being said aloud, gave Mr Lammle an opportunity,
as he came with Mr Boffin from the window to the breakfast
table, of taking up his dear and honoured wife.
‘My Sophronia,’ said that gentleman, ’your
too partial estimate of your husband’s character—’
‘No! Not too partial, Alfred,’ urged
the lady, tenderly moved; ’never say that.’
’My child, your favourable opinion, then, of
your husband—you don’t object to
that phrase, darling?’
