Here Miss Jane (previously instructed for the purpose) interposed her

many curls and whispered her sister to observe how jealous Mr

Cheggs was.

Jealous! Like his impudence!' said Richard Swiviller.

His impudence, Mr Swiviller!' said Miss Jane, tossing her head. 'Take

care he don't hear you, sir, or you may be sorry for it.'

Oh, pray, Jane - ' said Miss Sophy.

Nonsense!' replied her sister. 'Why shouldn't Mr Cheggs be jealous if

he likes? I like that, certainly. Mr Cheggs has a good a right to be

jealous as anyone else has, and perhaps he may have a better right

soon if he hasn't already. You know best about that, Sophy!'

Though this was a concerted plot between Miss Sophy and her sister,

originating in humane intenions and having for its object the inducing

Mr Swiviller to declare himself in time, it failed in its effect; for Miss

Jane being one of those young ladies who are premeturely shrill and

shrewish, gave such undue importance to her part that Mr Swiviller

retired in dudgeon, resigning his mistress to Mr Cheggs and

converying a definance into his looks which that gentleman

indignantly returned.

Did you speak to me, sir?' said Mr Cheggs, following him into a

corner. 'Have the kindness to smile, sir, in order that we may not be

suspected. Did you speak to me, sir'?

Mr Swiviller looked with a supercilious smile at Mr Chegg's toes, then

raised his eyes from them to his ankles, from that to his shin, from

that to his knee, and so on very gradually, keeping up his right leg,

until he reached his waistcoat, when he raised his eyes from button to

button until he reached his chin, and travelling straight up the middle

of his nose came at last to his eyes, when he said abruptly,

No, sir, I didn't.'

'Hem!' said Mr Cheggs, glancing over his shoulder, 'have the goodness

to smile again, sir. Perhaps you wished to speak to me, sir.'

No, sir, I didn't do that, either.'

Perhaps you may have nothing to say to me now, sir,' said Mr Cheggs

fiercely.

At these words Richard Swiviller withdrew his eyes from Mr Chegg's

face, and travelling down the middle of his nose and down his

The Old Curiosity Shop