The permission was not at all necessary, for, before Mr Bob Sawyer

had uttered the words, a little, fierce woman bounced into the room,

all in a tremble with passion, and pale with rage.

Now, Mr Sawyer,' said the little, fierce woman, trying to appear very

calm, 'if you'll have the kindness to settle that little bill of mine I'll

thank you, because I've got my rent to pay this afternoon, and my

landlord's a-waiting below now.' Here the little woman rubbed her

hands, and looked steadily over Mr Bob Sawyer's head, at the wall

behind him.

'I am very sorry to put you to any inconvenience, Mrs. Raddle,' said

Bob Sawyer deferentially, 'but - '

Oh, it isn't any inconvenience,' replied the little woman, with a shrill

titter. 'I didn't want it particular before to-day; leastways, as it has to

go to my landlord directly, it was as well for you to keep it as me. You

promised me this afternoon, Mr Sawyer, and every gentleman as has

ever lived here, has kept his word, Sir, as of course anybody as calls

himself a gentleman does.' Mrs. Raddle tossed her head, bit her lips,

rubbed her hands harder, and looked at the wall more steadily than

ever. It was plain to see, as Mr Bob Sawyer remarked in a style of

Eastern allegory on a subsequent occasion, that she was 'getting the

steam up.'

'I am very sorry, Mrs. Raddle,' said Bob Sawyer, with all imaginable

humility, 'but the fact is, that I have been disappointed in the City to-

day.' - Extraordinary place that City. An astonishing number of men

always ARE getting disappointed there.

'Well, Mr Sawyer,' said Mrs. Raddle, planting herself firmly on a purple

cauliflower in the Kidderminster carpet, 'and what's that to me, Sir?'

'I - I - have no doubt, Mrs. Raddle,' said Bob Sawyer, blinking this last

question, 'that before the middle of next week we shall be able to set

ourselves quite square, and go on, on a better system, afterwards.'

This was all Mrs. Raddle wanted. She had bustled up to the

apartment of the unlucky Bob Sawyer, so bent upon going into a

passion, that, in all probability, payment would have rather

disappointed her than otherwise. She was in excellent order for a little

relaxation of the kind, having just exchanged a few introductory

compliments with Mr R. in the front kitchen.

Do you suppose, Mr Sawyer,' said Mrs. Raddle, elevating her voice for

the information of the neighbours - 'do you suppose that I'm a-going

day after day to let a fellar occupy my lodgings as never thinks of

paying his rent, nor even the very money laid out for the fresh butter

The Pickwick Papers