were all angry with the widow, and each lady whispered in her

neighbour's ear that it was very plain that said widow thought herself

the person referred to, and what a puss she was!

Mother knows,' said Mrs Quilp, 'that what I say is quite correct, for

she often said so before we were married. Didn't you say so, mother?'

This inquiry involved the respected lady in rather a delicate position,

for she certainly had been an active party in making her daughter Mrs

Quilp, and, besides, it was not supporting the family credit to

encourage the idea that she had married a man whom nobody else

would have. On the other hand, to exaggerate the captivating qualities

of her son-in-law would be to weaken the cause of revolt, in which all

her energies were deeply engaged. Beset by these opposing

considerations, Mrs Jiniwin admitted the powers of insinuation, but

denied the right to govern, and with a timely compliment to the stout

lady brought back the discussion to the point from which it had

strayed.

Oh! It's a sensible and proper thing indeed, what Mrs George has

said,!' exclaimed the old lady. 'If women are only true to themselves! -

But Betsy isn't, and more's the shame and pity.'

Before I'd let a man order me about as Quilp orders her,' said Mrs

George, 'before I'd consent to stand in awe of a man as she does of

him, I'd - I'd kill myself, and write a letter first to say he did it!'

This remark being loudly commended and approved of, another lady

(

from the Minories) put in her word:

'Mr Quilp may be a very nice man,' said this lady, 'and I supposed

there's no doubt he is, because Mrs Quilp says he is, and Mrs Jiniwin

says he is, and they ought to know, or nobody does. But still he is not

quite a - what one calls a handsome man, nor quite a young man

neither, which might be a little excuse for him if anything could be;

whereas his wife is young, and is good-looking, and is a woman -

which is the greatest thing after all.'

This last clause being delivered with extraordinary pathos, elicited a

corresponding murmer from the hearers, stimulated by which the lady

went on to remark that if such a husband was cross and

unreasonable with such a wife, then -

'If he is!' interposed the mother, putting down her tea-cup and

brushing the crumbs out of her lap, preparatory to making a solemn

declaration. 'If he is! He is the greatest tyrant that every lived, she

daren't call her soul her own, he makes her tremble with a word and

The Old Curiosity Shop