'Such a what?' said Dick.

'Such a one-er,' returned the Marchioness.

After a moment's reflection, Mr Swiveller determined to forego his

responsible duty of setting her right, and to suffer her to talk on; as it

was evident that her tongue was loosened by the purl, and her

opportunities for conversation were not so frequent as to render a

momentary check of little consequence.

'They sometimes go to see Mr Quilp,' said the small servant with a

shrewd look; 'they go to a many places, bless you!'

'Is Mr Brass a wunner?' said Dick.

'Not half what Miss Sally is, he isn't,' replied the small servant,

shaking her head. 'Bless you, he'd never do anything without her.'

'Oh! He wouldn't, wouldn't he?' said Dick.

Miss Sally keeps him in such order,' said the small servant; 'he

always asks her advice, he does; and he catches it sometimes. Bless

you, you wouldn't believe how much he catches it.'

'I suppose,' said Dick, 'that they consult together, a good deal, and

talk about a great many people - about me for instance, sometimes,

eh, Marchioness?'

The Marchioness nodded amazingly.

Complimentary?' said Mr Swiveller.

The Marchioness changed the motion of her head, which had not yet

left off nodding, and suddenly began to shake it from side to side, with

a vehemence which threatened to dislocate her neck.

Humph!' Dick muttered. 'Would it be any breach of confidence,

Marchioness, to relate what they say of the humble individual who

has now the honour to - ?'

'Miss Sally says you're a funny chap,' replied his friend.

Well, Marchioness,' said Mr Swiveller, 'that's not uncomplimentary.

Merriment, Marchioness, is not a bad or a degrading quality. Old King

Cole was himself a merry old soul, if we may put any faith in the

pages of history.'

'But she says,' pursued his companion, 'that you an't to be trusted.'

The Old Curiosity Shop