Who else is a-goin', lovey?' said Mrs. Cluppins, in an insinuating

manner.

Oh! Mrs. Rogers is a-goin',' replied Master Bardell, opening his eyes

very wide as he delivered the intelligence.

What? The lady as has taken the lodgings!' ejaculated Mrs. Cluppins.

Master Bardell put his hands deeper down into his pockets, and

nodded exactly thirty-five times, to imply that it was the lady-lodger,

and no other.

'Bless us!' said Mrs. Cluppins. 'It's quite a party!'

Ah, if you knew what was in the cupboard, you'd say so,' replied

Master Bardell.

What is there, Tommy?' said Mrs. Cluppins coaxingly. 'You'll tell ME,

Tommy, I know.' 'No, I won't,' replied Master Bardell, shaking his

head, and applying himself to the bottom step again.

'Drat the child!' muttered Mrs. Cluppins. 'What a prowokin' little

wretch it is! Come, Tommy, tell your dear Cluppy.'

Mother said I wasn't to,' rejoined Master Bardell, 'I'm a-goin' to have

some, I am.' Cheered by this prospect, the precocious boy applied

himself to his infantile treadmill, with increased vigour.

The above examination of a child of tender years took place while Mr

and Mrs. Raddle and the cab-driver were having an altercation

concerning the fare, which, terminating at this point in favour of the

cabman, Mrs. Raddle came up tottering.

'Lauk, Mary Ann! what's the matter?' said Mrs. Cluppins.

It's put me all over in such a tremble, Betsy,' replied Mrs. Raddle.

Raddle ain't like a man; he leaves everythink to me.'

This was scarcely fair upon the unfortunate Mr Raddle, who had been

thrust aside by his good lady in the commencement of the dispute,

and peremptorily commanded to hold his tongue. He had no

opportunity of defending himself, however, for Mrs. Raddle gave

unequivocal signs of fainting; which, being perceived from the parlour

window, Mrs. Bardell, Mrs. Sanders, the lodger, and the lodger's

servant, darted precipitately out, and conveyed her into the house, all

talking at the same time, and giving utterance to various expressions

of pity and condolence, as if she were one of the most suffering

mortals on earth. Being conveyed into the front parlour, she was there

The Pickwick Papers