[Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens]@TWC D-Link book
Oliver Twist

CHAPTER XVII
3/12

'If it isn't him at this time in the morning! Lauk, Mr.Bumble, only think of its being you! Well, dear me, it IS a pleasure, this is! Come into the parlour, sir, please.' The first sentence was addressed to Susan; and the exclamations of delight were uttered to Mr.Bumble: as the good lady unlocked the garden-gate: and showed him, with great attention and respect, into the house.
'Mrs.Mann,' said Mr.Bumble; not sitting upon, or dropping himself into a seat, as any common jackanapes would: but letting himself gradually and slowly down into a chair; 'Mrs.Mann, ma'am, good morning.' 'Well, and good morning to _you_, sir,' replied Mrs.Mann, with many smiles; 'and hoping you find yourself well, sir!' 'So-so, Mrs.Mann,' replied the beadle.

'A porochial life is not a bed of roses, Mrs.Mann.' 'Ah, that it isn't indeed, Mr.Bumble,' rejoined the lady.

And all the infant paupers might have chorussed the rejoinder with great propriety, if they had heard it.
'A porochial life, ma'am,' continued Mr.Bumble, striking the table with his cane, 'is a life of worrit, and vexation, and hardihood; but all public characters, as I may say, must suffer prosecution.' Mrs.Mann, not very well knowing what the beadle meant, raised her hands with a look of sympathy, and sighed.
'Ah! You may well sigh, Mrs.Mann!' said the beadle.
Finding she had done right, Mrs.Mann sighed again: evidently to the satisfaction of the public character: who, repressing a complacent smile by looking sternly at his cocked hat, said, 'Mrs.Mann, I am going to London.' 'Lauk, Mr.Bumble!' cried Mrs.Mann, starting back.
'To London, ma'am,' resumed the inflexible beadle, 'by coach.

I and two paupers, Mrs.Mann! A legal action is a coming on, about a settlement; and the board has appointed me--me, Mrs.Mann--to dispose to the matter before the quarter-sessions at Clerkinwell.
And I very much question,' added Mr.Bumble, drawing himself up, 'whether the Clerkinwell Sessions will not find themselves in the wrong box before they have done with me.' 'Oh! you mustn't be too hard upon them, sir,' said Mrs.Mann, coaxingly.
'The Clerkinwell Sessions have brought it upon themselves, ma'am,' replied Mr.Bumble; 'and if the Clerkinwell Sessions find that they come off rather worse than they expected, the Clerkinwell Sessions have only themselves to thank.' There was so much determination and depth of purpose about the menacing manner in which Mr.Bumble delivered himself of these words, that Mrs.
Mann appeared quite awed by them.

At length she said, 'You're going by coach, sir?
I thought it was always usual to send them paupers in carts.' 'That's when they're ill, Mrs.Mann,' said the beadle.


<<Back  Index  Next>>

D-Link book Top

TWC mobile books