yesterday evening, in Whitechapel. She's a rare fellow at a bargain, I

can tell you, Mr Richard. You'll find that a first-rate stool, Sir, take my

word for it.'

It's rather a crazy one to look at,' said Dick.

'You'll find it a most amazing stool to sit down upon, you may depend,'

returned Mr Brass. 'It was bought in the open street just opposite the

hospital, and as it has been standing there a month of two, it has got

rather dusty and a little brown from being in the sun, that's all.'

I hope it hasn't got any fevers or anything of that sort in it,' said Dick,

sitting himself down discontentedly, between Mr Sampson and the

chaste Sally. 'One of the legs is longer than the others.'

Then we get a bit of timber in, Sir,' retorted Brass. 'Ha, ha, ha! We get

a bit of timber in, Sir, and that's another advantage of my sister's

going to market for us. Miss Brass, Mr Richard is the - '

'Will you keep quiet?' interrupted the fair subject of these remarks,

looking up from her papers. 'How am I to work if you keep on

chattering?'

What an uncertain chap you are!' returned the lawyer. 'Sometimes

you're all for a chat. At another time you're all for work. A man never

knows what humour he'll find you in.'

'I'm in a working humour now,' said Sally, 'so don't disturb me, if you

please. And don't take him,' Miss Sally pointed with the feather of her

pen to Richard, 'off his business. He won't do more than he can help, I

dare say.'

Mr Brass had evidently a strong inclination to make an angry reply,

but was deterred by prudent or timid considerations, as he only

muttered something about aggravation and a vagabond; not

associating the terms with any individual, but mentioning them as

connected with some abstract ideas which happened to occur to him.

They went on writing for a long time in silence after this - in such a

dull silence that Mr Swiveller (who required excitement) had several

times fallen asleep, and written divers strange words in an unknown

character with his eyes shut, when Miss Sally at length broke in upon

the monotony of the office by pulling out the little tin box, taking a

noisy pinch of snuff, and then expressing her opinion that Mr Richard

Swiveller had 'done it.'

Done what, ma'am?' said Richard.

The Old Curiosity Shop