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'She DOES toss her head, observed Miss Squeers, with an air of abstraction. 'So vain, and so very very plain, said the girl. 'Poor 'Tilda! sighed Miss Squeers, compassionately. 'And always laying herself out so, to get to be admired, pursued the servant. 'Oh, dear! It's positive indelicate. 'I can't allow you to talk in that way, Phib, said Miss Squeers.
'What do you mean, Phib? asked Miss Squeers, looking in her own little glass, where, like most of us, she saw not herself, but the reflection of some pleasant image in her own brain. 'How you talk! 'Talk, miss! It's enough to make a Tom cat talk French grammar, only to see how she tosses her head, replied the handmaid.
'Oh yes; you, miss, interposed Phib. 'Well, me, Phib, if you will have it so, said Miss Squeers. 'I must say, that if she would, she would be all the better for it. 'So somebody else thinks, or I am much mistaken, said the girl mysteriously. 'What do you mean? demanded Miss Squeers. 'Never mind, miss, replied the girl; 'I know what I know; that's all.
Phib Cook left her evening wash-tub and appeared at her door in soap-suds, a bonnet-poke, and general dampness; three narrow-chested ribbon-weavers, in rusty black streaked with shreds of many-coloured silk, sauntered out with their hands in their pockets; and Molly Beale, a brawny old virago, descrying wiry Dame Ricketts peeping out from her entry, seized the opportunity of renewing the morning's skirmish.
Nobody at home but me. Didn't ask me to her party, Fanny Harlow didn't." Dotty heaved a deep sigh, took her black baby out of its cradle, and shook it with all her might. "What you lookin' to me for, Phib? I wasn't a 'peakin' to you. I'm goin' to cover you all up, Phib, so you won't hear me think." Then Dotty looked out of the window again.
'Tilda Price has faults many faults but I wish her well, and above all I wish her married; for I think it highly desirable most desirable from the very nature of her failings that she should be married as soon as possible. No, Phib. Let her have Mr Browdie. I may pity HIM, poor fellow; but I have a great regard for 'Tilda, and only hope she may make a better wife than I think she will.
''Tilda's friends are low people, and if she don't know any better, it's their fault, and not hers. 'Well, but you know, miss, said Phoebe, for which name 'Phib' was used as a patronising abbreviation, 'if she was only to take copy by a friend oh! if she only knew how wrong she was, and would but set herself right by you, what a nice young woman she might be in time!
'Phib, rejoined Miss Squeers, with a stately air, 'it's not proper for me to hear these comparisons drawn; they make 'Tilda look a coarse improper sort of person, and it seems unfriendly in me to listen to them. I would rather you dropped the subject, Phib; at the same time, I must say, that if 'Tilda Price would take pattern by somebody not me particularly
'Phib, said Miss Squeers dramatically, 'I insist upon your explaining yourself. What is this dark mystery? Speak. 'Why, if you will have it, miss, it's this, said the servant girl. 'Mr John Browdie thinks as you think; and if he wasn't too far gone to do it creditable, he'd be very glad to be off with Miss Price, and on with Miss Squeers.
'Gracious heavens! exclaimed Miss Squeers, clasping her hands with great dignity. 'What is this? 'Truth, ma'am, and nothing but truth, replied the artful Phib. 'What a situation! cried Miss Squeers; 'on the brink of unconsciously destroying the peace and happiness of my own 'Tilda.
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