Jiniwin, who finding herself in the position of champion, made a faint

struggle to sustain the character.

And why not stop to supper, Quilp,' said the old lady, 'if my daughter

had a mind?'

To be sure,' rejoined Daniel. 'Why not?'

There's nothing dishonest or wrong in a supper, I hope?' said Mrs

Jiniwin.

Surely not,' returned the dwarf. 'Why should there be? Nor anything

unwholesome, either, unless there's lobster-salad or prawns, which

I'm told are not good for digestion.'

And you wouldn't like your wife to be attacked with that, or anything

else that would make her uneasy would you?' said Mrs Jiniwin.

Not for a score of worlds,' replied the dwarf with a grin. 'Not even to

have a score of mothers-in-law at the same time - and what a blessing

that would be!'

My daughter's your wife, Mr Quilp, certainly,' said the old lady with a

giggle, meant for satirical and to imply that he needed to be reminded

of the fact; 'your wedded wife.'

So she is, certainly. So she is,' observed the dwarf.

And she has has a right to do as she likes, I hope, Quilp,' said the old

lady trembling, partly with anger and partly with a secret fear of her

impish son-in-law.

'Hope she has!' he replied. 'Oh! Don't you know she has? Don't you

know she has, Mrs Jiniwin?

I know she ought to have, Quilp, and would have, if she was of my

way of thiniking.'

Why an't you of your mother's way of thinking, my dear?' said the

dwarf, turing round and addressing his wife, 'why don't you always

imitate your mother, my dear? She's the ornament of her sex - your

father said so every day of his life. I am sure he did.'

'Her father was a blessed creetur, Quilp, and worthy twenty thousand

of some people,' said Mrs Jiniwin; 'twenty hundred million thousand.'

The Old Curiosity Shop