And with innumerable leers, winks, coughs, nods, smiles,
and curtseys, all leading to the establishment of
a mysterious and confidential understanding between
herself and the bride, Mrs Gamp, invoking a blessing
upon the house, leered, winked, coughed, nodded, smiled,
and curtseyed herself out of the room.
’But I will say, and I would if I was led a
Martha to the Stakes for it,’ Mrs Gamp remarked
below stairs, in a whisper, ’that she don’t
look much like a merry one at this present moment
of time.’
‘Ah! wait till you hear her laugh!’ said
Bailey.
‘Hem!’ cried Mrs Gamp, in a kind of groan.
‘I will, child.’
They said no more in the house, for Mrs Gamp put on
her bonnet, Mr Sweedlepipe took up her box; and Mr
Bailey accompanied them towards Kingsgate Street;
recounting to Mrs Gamp as they went along, the origin
and progress of his acquaintance with Mrs Chuzzlewit
and her sister. It was a pleasant instance of
this youth’s precocity, that he fancied Mrs
Gamp had conceived a tenderness for him, and was much
tickled by her misplaced attachment.
As the door closed heavily behind them, Mrs Jonas
sat down in a chair, and felt a strange chill creep
upon her, whilst she looked about the room. It
was pretty much as she had known it, but appeared more
dreary. She had thought to see it brightened
to receive her.
‘It ain’t good enough for you, I suppose?’
said Jonas, watching her looks.
‘Why, it is dull,’ said Merry, trying
to be more herself.
‘It’ll be duller before you’re done
with it,’ retorted Jonas, ’if you give
me any of your airs. You’re a nice article,
to turn sulky on first coming home! Ecod, you
used to have life enough, when you could plague me
with it. The gal’s downstairs. Ring
the bell for supper, while I take my boots off!’
She roused herself from looking after him as he left
the room, to do what he had desired; when the old
man Chuffey laid his hand softly on her arm.
‘You are not married?’ he said eagerly.
‘Not married?’
‘Yes. A month ago. Good Heaven, what
is the matter?’
He answered nothing was the matter; and turned from
her. But in her fear and wonder, turning also,
she saw him raise his trembling hands above his head,
and heard him say:
‘Oh! woe, woe, woe, upon this wicked house!’
It was her welcome—home.
Showing that old friends may
not only appear with new faces,
but in false colours. That
people are prone to bite,
and that biters may sometimes
be bitten.
