United States or Costa Rica ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
'And you're all on the look-out for yourselves, I warrant you, says Mrs Pipchin, shaking her head at them. A shrill voice from the rear exclaims, 'No more than yourself! 'That's your opinion, Mrs Impudence, is it? says the ireful Pipchin, looking with a fiery eye over the intermediate heads. 'Yes, Mrs Pipchin, it is, replies Cook, advancing. 'And what then, pray?
'Does that bold-faced slut, said the fell Pipchin, 'intend to take her warning, or does she not? Miss Nipper replied from within that the person described did not inhabit that part of the house, but that her name was Pipchin, and she was to be found in the housekeeper's room. 'You saucy baggage! retorted Mrs Pipchin, rattling at the handle of the door. 'Go along with you this minute.
Such was his condition at the Pipchin period, when he looked a little older than of yore, but not much; and was the same light-footed, light-hearted, light-headed lad, as when he charged into the parlour at the head of Uncle Sol and the imaginary boarders, and lighted him to bring up the Madeira. 'Uncle Sol, said Walter, 'I don't think you're well. You haven't eaten any breakfast.
The weak-eyed young man went, very meekly, to discharge himself of this commission; and soon came back to invite them to the Doctor's study. 'You're laughing again, Sir, said Mrs Pipchin, when it came to her turn, bringing up the rear, to pass him in the hall. 'I ain't, returned the young man, grievously oppressed. 'I never see such a thing as this!
Another wonderfully comic minor character was introduced later on in the eminently ridiculous person of old Mrs. Fielding in regard to in-door gloves, a foreshadowing of Mrs. Wilfer in the matter of her imaginary losses through the indigo trade, a spectral precursor, or dim prototype, as one might say, of Mrs. Pipchin and the Peruvian mines.
This form of proceeding Mrs Pipchin repeats with every member of the household, until all are paid. 'Now those that choose, can go about their business, says Mrs Pipchin, 'and those that choose can stay here on board wages for a week or so, and make themselves useful. Except, says the inflammable Pipchin, 'that slut of a cook, who'll go immediately. 'That, says Cook, 'she certainly will!
Mrs Wickam shook her left fore-finger stealthily towards the bed where Florence lay; then turned it upside down, and made several emphatic points at the floor; immediately below which was the parlour in which Mrs Pipchin habitually consumed the toast. 'Remember my words, Miss Berry, said Mrs Wickam, 'and be thankful that Master Paul is not too fond of you.
I have been thinking of Doctor Blimber's, Mrs Pipchin. 'My neighbour, Sir? said Mrs Pipchin. 'I believe the Doctor's is an excellent establishment. I've heard that it's very strictly conducted, and there is nothing but learning going on from morning to night. 'And it's very expensive, added Mr Dombey.
But Mrs Pipchin had a way of falling foul of all meek people; and her friends said who could wonder at it, after the Peruvian mines! The Doctor was sitting in his portentous study, with a globe at each knee, books all round him, Homer over the door, and Minerva on the mantel-shelf.
Then, again, are we to limit our interest, as these modern writers do, to the beautiful people or the interesting people or the gross, emphatic people. Dickens is never more childlike than when he draws us, wonderingly and confidingly, to the stark knees of a Mrs. Pipchin, or when he drives us away, in unaccountable panic-terror, from the rattling jet-beads of a Miss Murdstone.
Word Of The Day