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'Do you hear that, Betsy? said Mrs Jiniwin, in a warning voice. 'How often have I said the same words to you, and almost gone down my knees when I spoke 'em! Poor Mrs Quilp, who had looked in a state of helplessness from one face of condolence to another, coloured, smiled, and shook her head doubtfully.
His fair enemies tossed their heads slightly as they sought their respective bonnets and shawls, but left all verbal contention to Mrs 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?
Somewhat reassured by her account of the service she was required to render, Mrs Jiniwin made her appearance in a flannel dressing-gown; and both mother and daughter, trembling with terror and cold for the night was now far advanced obeyed Mr Quilp's directions in submissive silence.
'Oh, beyond a doubt, assented Mrs Jiniwin hastily; 'if we once had that, we should be quite sure. 'With regard to the descriptive advertisement, said Sampson Brass, taking up his pen. 'It is a melancholy pleasure to recall his traits. Respecting his legs now ? 'Crooked, certainly, said Mrs Jiniwin. 'Do you think they WERE crooked? said Brass, in an insinuating tone.
'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.
Now, Mrs Jiniwin bounced into the room with great impetuosity; for, supposing her son-in-law to be still a-bed, she had come to relieve her feelings by pronouncing a strong opinion upon his general conduct and character. Seeing that he was up and dressed, and that the room appeared to have been occupied ever since she quitted it on the previous evening, she stopped short, in some embarrassment.
The noise was at its height, and half the company had elevated their voices into a perfect shriek in order to drown the voices of the other half, when Mrs Jiniwin was seen to change colour and shake her forefinger stealthily, as if exhorting them to silence.
'Ah! said the spokeswoman, 'I wish you'd give her a little of your advice, Mrs Jiniwin' Mrs Quilp had been a Miss Jiniwin it should be observed 'nobody knows better than you, ma'am, what us women owe to ourselves. 'Owe indeed, ma'am! replied Mrs Jiniwin.
At the same table, with both her elbows upon it, was Mrs Jiniwin; no longer sipping other people's punch feloniously with teaspoons, but taking deep draughts from a jorum of her own; while her daughter not exactly with ashes on her head, or sackcloth on her back, but preserving a very decent and becoming appearance of sorrow nevertheless was reclining in an easy chair, and soothing her grief with a smaller allowance of the same glib liquid.
But it was not to Mrs Jiniwin alone that Mr Quilp's attention was restricted, as several other matters required his constant vigilance.
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