下载辰思小说免费APP
Withthelookofonejustawakened，hefollowedRiderhoodintotheLock-house，wherethelatterproducedfromacupboardsomecoldsaltbeefandhalfaloaf，somegininabottle，andsomewaterinajug。Thelasthebroughtin，coolanddripping，fromtheriver。
\'There，T\'otherest，\'saidRiderhood，stoopingoverhimtoputitonthetable。\'You\'dbettertakeabiteandasup，aforeyoutakesyoursnooze。\'Thedragglingendsoftheredneckerchiefcaughttheschoolmaster\'seyes。Riderhoodsawhimlookatit。
\'Oh！\'thoughtthatworthy。\'You\'rea-takingnotice，areyou?
Come！Youshallhaveagoodsquintatitthen。\'Withwhichreflectionhesatdownontheothersideofthetable，threwopenhisvest，andmadeapretenceofre-tyingtheneckerchiefwithmuchdeliberation。
Bradleyateanddrank。Ashesatathisplatterandmug，Riderhoodsawhim，againandyetagain，stealalookattheneckerchief，asifhewerecorrectinghisslowobservationandpromptinghissluggishmemory。\'Whenyou\'rereadyforyoursnooze，\'saidthathonestcreature，\'chuckyourselfonmybedinthecorner，T\'otherest。It\'llbebroaddayaforethree。I\'llcallyouearly。\'
\'Ishallrequirenocalling，\'answeredBradley。Andsoonafterwards，divestinghimselfonlyofhisshoesandcoat，laidhimselfdown。
Riderhood，leaningbackinhiswoodenarm-chairwithhisarmsfoldedonhisbreast，lookedathimlyingwithhisrighthandclenchedinhissleepandhisteethset，untilafilmcameoverhisownsight，andheslepttoo。Heawoketofindthatitwasdaylight，andthathisvisitorwasalreadyastir，andgoingouttotheriver-
sidetocoolhishead:——\'ThoughI\'mblest，\'mutteredRiderhoodattheLock-housedoor，lookingafterhim，\'ifIthinkthere\'swaterenoughinalltheThamestodoTHATforyou！\'Withinfiveminuteshehadtakenhisdeparture，andwaspassingonintothecalmdistanceashehadpassedyesterday。Riderhoodknewwhenafishleaped，byhisstartingandglancinground。
\'Lockho！Lock！\'atintervalsallday，and\'Lockho！Lock！\'thriceintheensuingnight，butnoreturnofBradley。Theseconddaywassultryandoppressive。Intheafternoon，athunderstormcameup，andhadbutnewlybrokenintoafurioussweepofrainwhenherushedinatthedoor，likethestormitself。
\'You\'veseenhimwithher！\'exclaimedRiderhood，startingup。
\'Ihave。\'
\'Where?\'
\'Athisjourney\'send。Hisboat\'shauledupforthreedays。Iheardhimgivetheorder。Then，Isawhimwaitforherandmeether。I
sawthem\'——hestoppedasthoughheweresuffocating，andbeganagain——\'Isawthemwalkingsidebyside，lastnight。\'
\'Whatdidyoudo?\'
\'Nothing。\'
\'Whatareyougoingtodo?\'
Hedroppedintoachair，andlaughed。Immediatelyafterwards，agreatspirtofbloodburstfromhisnose。
\'Howdoesthathappen?\'askedRiderhood。
\'Idon\'tknow。Ican\'tkeepitback。Ithashappenedtwice——threetimes——fourtimes——Idon\'tknowhowmanytimes——sincelastnight。
Itasteit，smellit，seeit，itchokesme，andthenitbreaksoutlikethis。\'
Hewentintothepeltingrainagainwithhisheadbare，and，bendinglowovertheriver，andscoopingupthewaterwithhistwohands，washedthebloodaway。Allbeyondhisfigure，asRiderhoodlookedfromthedoor，wasavastdarkcurtaininsolemnmovementtowardsonequarteroftheheavens。Heraisedhisheadandcameback，wetfromheadtofoot，butwiththelowerpartsofhissleeves，wherehehaddippedintotheriver，streamingwater。
\'Yourfaceislikeaghost\'s，\'saidRiderhood。
\'Didyoueverseeaghost?\'wasthesullenretort。
\'Imeantosay，you\'requiteworeout。\'
\'Thatmaywellbe。IhavehadnorestsinceIlefthere。Idon\'trememberthatIhavesomuchassatdownsinceIlefthere。\'
\'Liedownnow，then，\'saidRiderhood。
\'Iwill，ifyou\'llgivemesomethingtoquenchmythirstfirst。\'
Thebottleandjugwereagainproduced，andhemixedaweakdraught，andanother，anddrankbothinquicksuccession。\'Youaskedmesomething，\'hesaidthen。
\'No，Ididn\'t，\'repliedRiderhood。
\'Itellyou，\'retortedBradley，turninguponhiminawildanddesperatemanner，\'youaskedmesomething，beforeIwentouttowashmyfaceintheriver。
\'Oh！Then?\'saidRiderhood，backingalittle。\'Iaskedyouwotyouwosa-goingtodo。\'
\'Howcanamaninthisstateknow?\'heanswered，protestingwithbothhistremuloushands，withanactionsovigorouslyangrythatheshookthewaterfromhissleevesuponthefloor，asifhehadwrungthem。\'HowcanIplananything，ifIhaven\'tsleep?\'
\'Why，that\'swhatIasgoodassaid，\'returnedtheother。\'Didn\'tI
sayliedown?\'
\'Well，perhapsyoudid。\'
\'Well！AnywaysIsaysitagain。Sleepwhereyousleptlast；thesounderandlongeryoucansleep，thebetteryou\'llknowarterwardswhatyou\'reupto。\'
Hispointingtothetrucklebedinthecorner，seemedgraduallytobringthatpoorcouchtoBradley\'swanderingremembrance。Heslippedoffhisworndown-troddenshoes，andcasthimselfheavily，allwetashewas，uponthebed。
Riderhoodsatdowninhiswoodenarm-chair，andlookedthroughthewindowatthelightning，andlistenedtothethunder。But，histhoughtswerefarfrombeingabsorbedbythethunderandthelightning，foragainandagainandagainhelookedverycuriouslyattheexhaustedmanuponthebed。Themanhadturnedupthecollaroftheroughcoathewore，toshelterhimselffromthestorm，andhadbuttoneditabouthisneck。Unconsciousofthat，andofmostthings，hehadleftthecoatso，bothwhenhehadlavedhisfaceintheriver，andwhenhehadcasthimselfuponthebed；
thoughitwouldhavebeenmucheasiertohimifhehadunloosenedit。
Thethunderrolledheavily，andtheforkedlightningseemedtomakejaggedrentsineverypartofthevastcurtainwithout，asRiderhoodsatbythewindow，glancingatthebed。Sometimes，hesawthemanuponthebed，byaredlight；sometimes，byablue；
sometimes，hescarcelysawhiminthedarknessofthestorm；
sometimeshesawnothingofhimintheblindingglareofpalpitatingwhitefire。Anon，therainwouldcomeagainwithatremendousrush，andtheriverwouldseemtorisetomeetit，andablastofwind，burstinguponthedoor，wouldflutterthehairanddressoftheman，asifinvisiblemessengerswerecomearoundthebedtocarryhimaway。Fromallthesephasesofthestorm，Riderhoodwouldturn，asiftheywereinterruptions——ratherstrikinginterruptionspossibly，butinterruptionsstill——ofhisscrutinyofthesleeper。
\'Hesleepssound，\'hesaidwithinhimself；\'yethe\'sthatuptomeandthatnoticingofmethatmygettingoutofmychairmaywakehim，whenarattlingpealwon\'t；letalonemytouchingofhim。\'
Heverycautiouslyrosetohisfeet。\'T\'otherest，\'hesaid，inalow，calmvoice，\'areyoualyingeasy?There\'sachillintheair，governor。ShallIputacoatoveryou?\'
Noanswer。
\'That\'saboutwhatitisa\'ready，yousee，\'mutteredRiderhoodinalowerandadifferentvoice；\'acoatoveryou，acoatoveryou！\'
Thesleepermovinganarm，hesatdownagaininhischair，andfeignedtowatchthestormfromthewindow。Itwasagrandspectacle，butnotsograndastokeephiseyes，forhalfaminutetogether，fromstealingalookatthemanuponthebed。
ItwasattheconcealedthroatofthesleeperthatRiderhoodsooftenlookedsocuriously，untilthesleepseemedtodeepenintothestuporofthedead-tiredinmindandbody。Then，Riderhoodcamefromthewindowcautiously，andstoodbythebed。
\'Poorman！\'hemurmuredinalowtone，withacraftyface，andaverywatchfuleyeandreadyfoot，lestheshouldstartup；\'thisherecoatofhismustmakehimuneasyinhissleep。ShallIloosenitforhim，andmakehimmorecomfortable?Ah！IthinkIoughttodoit，poorman。IthinkIwill。\'
Hetouchedthefirstbuttonwithaverycautioushand，andastepbackward。But，thesleeperremaininginprofoundunconsciousness，hetouchedtheotherbuttonswithamoreassuredhand，andperhapsthemorelightlyonthataccount。Softlyandslowly，heopenedthecoatanddrewitback。
Thedragglingendsofabright-redneckerchiefwerethendisclosed，andhehadevenbeenatthepainsofdippingpartsofitinsomeliquid，togiveittheappearanceofhavingbecomestainedbywear。
Withamuch-perplexedface，Riderhoodlookedfromittothesleeper，andfromthesleepertoit，andfinallycreptbacktohischair，andthere，withhishandtohischin，satlonginabrownstudy，lookingatboth。
Chapter2
THEGOLDENDUSTMANRISESALITTLE
MrandMrsLammlehadcometobreakfastwithMrandMrsBoffin。Theywerenotabsolutelyuninvited，buthadpressedthemselveswithsomuchurgencyonthegoldencouple，thatevasionofthehonourandpleasureoftheircompanywouldhavebeendifficult，ifdesired。Theywereinacharmingstateofmind，wereMrandMrsLammle，andalmostasfondofMrandMrsBoffinasofoneanother。
\'MydearMrsBoffin，\'saidMrsLammle，\'itimpartsnewlifetome，toseemyAlfredinconfidentialcommunicationwithMrBoffin。
Thetwowereformedtobecomeintimate。Somuchsimplicitycombinedwithsomuchforceofcharacter，suchnaturalsagacityunitedtosuchamiabilityandgentleness——thesearethedistinguishingcharacteristicsofboth。\'
Thisbeingsaidaloud，gaveMrLammleanopportunity，ashecamewithMrBoffinfromthewindowtothebreakfasttable，oftakinguphisdearandhonouredwife。
\'MySophronia，\'saidthatgentleman，\'yourtoopartialestimateofyourhusband\'scharacter——\'
\'No！Nottoopartial，Alfred，\'urgedthelady，tenderlymoved；
\'neversaythat。\'
\'Mychild，yourfavourableopinion，then，ofyourhusband——youdon\'tobjecttothatphrase，darling?\'
\'HowcanI，Alfred?\'
\'Yourfavourableopinionthen，myPrecious，doeslessthanjusticetoMrBoffin，andmorethanjusticetome。\'
\'Tothefirstcharge，Alfred，Ipleadguilty。Buttothesecond，ohno，no！\'
\'LessthanjusticetoMrBoffin，Sophronia，\'saidMrLammle，soaringintoatoneofmoralgrandeur，\'becauseitrepresentsMrBoffinasonmylowerlevel；morethanjusticetome，Sophronia，becauseitrepresentsmeasonMrBoffin\'shigherlevel。MrBoffinbearsandforbearsfarmorethanIcould。\'
\'Farmorethanyoucouldforyourself，Alfred?\'
\'Mylove，thatisnotthequestion。\'
\'Notthequestion，Lawyer?\'saidMrsLammle，archly。
\'No，dearSophronia。Frommylowerlevel，IregardMrBoffinastoogenerous，aspossessedoftoomuchclemency，asbeingtoogoodtopersonswhoareunworthyofhimandungratefultohim。
TothosenoblequalitiesIcanlaynoclaim。Onthecontrary，theyrousemyindignationwhenIseetheminaction。\'
\'Alfred！\'
\'Theyrousemyindignation，mydear，againsttheunworthypersons，andgivemeacombativedesiretostandbetweenMrBoffinandallsuchpersons。Why?Because，inmylowernatureI
ammoreworldlyandlessdelicate。NotbeingsomagnanimousasMrBoffin，Ifeelhisinjuriesmorethanhedoeshimself，andfeelmorecapableofopposinghisinjurers。\'
ItstruckMrsLammlethatitappearedratherdifficultthismorningtobringMrandMrsBoffinintoagreeableconversation。Herehadbeenseveralluresthrownout，andneitherofthemhadutteredaword。Herewereshe，MrsLammle，andherhusbanddiscoursingatonceaffectinglyandeffectively，butdiscoursingalone。
Assumingthatthedearoldcreatureswereimpressedbywhattheyheard，stillonewouldliketobesureofit，themoreso，asatleastoneofthedearoldcreatureswassomewhatpointedlyreferredto。
Ifthedearoldcreaturesweretoobashfulortoodulltoassumetheirrequiredplacesinthediscussion，whythenitwouldseemdesirablethatthedearoldcreaturesshouldbetakenbytheirheadsandshouldersandbroughtintoit。
\'Butisnotmyhusbandsayingineffect，\'askedMrsLammie，therefore，withaninnocentair，ofMrandMrsBoffin，\'thathebecomesunmindfulofhisowntemporarymisfortunesinhisadmirationofanotherwhomheisburningtoserve?Andisnotthatmakinganadmissionthathisnatureisagenerousone?Iamwretchedinargument，butsurelythisisso，dearMrandMrsBoffin?\'
Still，neitherMrandMrsBoffinsaidaword。Hesatwithhiseyesonhisplate，eatinghismuffinsandham，andshesatshylylookingattheteapot。MrsLammle\'sinnocentappealwasmerelythrownintotheair，tominglewiththesteamoftheurn。GlancingtowardsMrandMrsBoffin，sheveryslightlyraisedhereyebrows，asthoughinquiringofherhusband:\'DoInoticeanythingwronghere?\'
MrLammle，whohadfoundhischesteffectiveonavarietyofoccasions，manoeuvredhiscapaciousshirtfrontintothelargestdemonstrationpossible，andthensmilingretortedonhiswife，thus:
\'Sophronia，darling，MrandMrsBoffinwillremindyouoftheoldadage，thatself-praiseisnorecommendation。\'
\'Self-praise，Alfred?Doyoumeanbecauseweareoneandthesame?\'
\'No，mydearchild。Imeanthatyoucannotfailtoremember，ifyoureflectforasinglemoment，thatwhatyouarepleasedtocomplimentmeuponfeelinginthecaseofMrBoffin，youhaveyourselfconfidedtomeasyourownfeelinginthecaseofMrsBoffin。\'
(\'IshallbebeatenbythisLawyer，\'MrsLammlegailywhisperedtoMrsBoffin。\'IamafraidImustadmitit，ifhepressesme，forit\'sdamaginglytrue。\')
SeveralwhitedintsbegantocomeandgoaboutMrLammle\'snose，asheobservedthatMrsBoffinmerelylookedupfromtheteapotforamomentwithanembarrassedsmile，whichwasnosmile，andthenlookeddownagain。
\'Doyouadmitthecharge，Sophronia?\'inquiredAlfred，inarallyingtone。
\'Really，Ithink，\'saidMrsLammle，stillgaily，\'ImustthrowmyselfontheprotectionoftheCourt。AmIboundtoanswerthatquestion，myLord?\'ToMrBoffin。
\'Youneedn\'t，ifyoudon\'tlike，ma\'am，\'washisanswer。\'It\'snotoftheleastconsequence。\'
Bothhusbandandwifeglancedathim，verydoubtfully。Hismannerwasgrave，butnotcoarse，andderivedsomedignityfromacertainrepresseddislikeofthetoneoftheconversation。
AgainMrsLammleraisedhereyebrowsforinstructionfromherhusband。Herepliedinaslightnod，\'Try\'emagain。\'
\'Toprotectmyselfagainstthesuspicionofcovertself-laudation，mydearMrsBoffin，\'saidtheairyMrsLammletherefore，\'Imusttellyouhowitwas。\'
\'No。Praydon\'t，\'MrBoffininterposed。
MrsLammieturnedtohimlaughingly。\'TheCourtobjects?\'
\'Ma\'am，\'saidMrBoffin，\'theCourt(ifIamtheCourt)doesobject。
TheCourtobjectsfortworeasons。First，becausetheCourtdon\'tthinkitfair。Secondly，becausethedearoldlady，MrsCourt(ifI
amMr)getsdistressedbyit。\'
Averyremarkablewaveringbetweentwobearings——betweenherpropitiatorybearingthere，andherdefiantbearingatMrTwemlow\'s——wasobservableonthepartofMrsLammleasshesaid:
\'WhatdoestheCourtnotconsiderfair?\'
\'Lettingyougoon，\'repliedMrBoffin，noddinghisheadsoothingly，aswhoshouldsay，Wewon\'tbeharderonyouthanwecanhelp；we\'llmakethebestofit。\'It\'snotabove-boardandit\'snotfair。Whentheoldladyisuncomfortable，there\'ssuretobegoodreasonforit。Iseesheisuncomfortable，andIplainlyseethisisthegoodreasonwherefore。HAVEyoubreakfasted，ma\'am。\'
MrsLammle，settlingintoherdefiantmanner，pushedherplateaway，lookedatherhusband，andlaughed；butbynomeansgaily。
\'HaveYOUbreakfasted，sir?\'inquiredMrBoffin。
\'Thankyou，\'repliedAlfred，showingallhisteeth。\'IfMrsBoffinwillobligeme，I\'lltakeanothercupoftea。\'
Hespilledalittleofitoverthechestwhichoughttohavebeensoeffective，andwhichhaddonesolittle；butonthewholedrankitwithsomethingofanair，thoughthecomingandgoingdintsgotalmostaslarge，thewhile，asiftheyhadbeenmadebypressureoftheteaspoon。\'Athousandthanks，\'hethenobserved。\'Ihavebreakfasted。\'
\'Now，which，\'saidMrBoffinsoftly，takingoutapocket-book，\'whichofyoutwoisCashier?\'
\'Sophronia，mydear，\'remarkedherhusband，asheleanedbackinhischair，wavinghisrighthandtowardsher，whilehehunghislefthandbythethumbinthearm-holeofhiswaistcoat:\'itshallbeyourdepartment。\'
\'Iwouldrather，\'saidMrBoffin，\'thatitwasyourhusband\'s，ma\'am，because——butnevermind，because。Iwouldratherhavetodowithhim。However，whatIhavetosay，Iwillsaywithaslittleoffenceaspossible；ifIcansayitwithoutany，Ishallbeheartilyglad。Youtwohavedonemeaservice，averygreatservice，indoingwhatyoudid(myoldladyknowswhatitwas)，andIhaveputintothisenvelopeabanknoteforahundredpound。Iconsidertheservicewellworthahundredpound，andIamwellpleasedtopaythemoney。Wouldyoudomethefavourtotakeit，andlikewisetoacceptmythanks?\'
Withahaughtyaction，andwithoutlookingtowardshim，MrsLammleheldoutherlefthand，andintoitMrBoffinputthelittlepacket。Whenshehadconveyedittoherbosom，MrLammlehadtheappearanceoffeelingrelieved，andbreathingmorefreely，asnothavingbeenquitecertainthatthehundredpoundswerehis，untilthenotehadbeensafelytransferredoutofMrBoffin\'skeepingintohisownSophronia\'s。
\'Itisnotimpossible，\'saidMrBoffin，addressingAlfred，\'thatyouhavehadsomegeneralidea，sir，ofreplacingRokesmith，incourseoftime?\'
\'Itisnot，\'assentedAlfred，withaglitteringsmileandagreatdealofnose，\'notimpossible。\'
\'Andperhaps，ma\'am，\'pursuedMrBoffin，addressingSophronia，\'youhavebeensokindastotakeupmyoldladyinyourownmind，andtodoherthehonourofturningthequestionoverwhetheryoumightn\'toneofthesedayshaveherincharge，like?Whetheryoumightn\'tbeasortofMissBellaWilfertoher，andsomethingmore?\'
\'Ishouldhope，\'returnedMrsLammle，withascornfullookandinaloudvoice，\'thatifIwereanythingtoyourwife，sir，IcouldhardlyfailtobesomethingmorethanMissBellaWilfer，asyoucallher。\'
\'WhatdoYOUcallher，ma\'am?\'askedMrBoffin。
MrsLammledisdainedtoreply，andsatdefiantlybeatingonefootontheground。
\'AgainIthinkImaysay，that\'snotimpossible。Isit，sir?\'askedMrBoffin，turningtoAlfred。
\'Itisnot，\'saidAlfred，smilingassentasbefore，\'notimpossible。\'
\'Now，\'saidMrBoffin，gently，\'itwon\'tdo。Idon\'twishtosayasinglewordthatmightbeafrerwardsrememberedasunpleasant；
butitwon\'tdo。\'
\'Sophronia，mylove，\'herhusbandrepeatedinabanteringmanner，\'youhear?Itwon\'tdo。\'
\'No，\'saidMrBoffin，withhisvoicestilldropped，\'itreallywon\'t。
Youpositivelymustexcuseus。Ifyou\'llgoyourway，we\'llgoours，andsoIhopethisaffairendstothesatisfactionofallparties。\'
MrsLammlegavehimthelookofadecidedlydissatisfiedpartydemandingexemptionfromthecategory；butsaidnothing。
\'Thebestthingwecanmakeoftheaffair，\'saidMrBoffin，\'isamatterofbusiness，andasamatterofbusinessit\'sbroughttoaconclusion。Youhavedonemeagreatservice，averygreatservice，andIhavepaidforit。Isthereanyobjectiontotheprice?\'
MrandMrsLammlelookedatoneanotheracrossthetable，butneithercouldsaythattherewas。MrLammleshruggedhisshoulders，andMrsLammlesatrigid。
\'Verygood，\'saidMrBoffin。\'Wehope(myoldladyandme)thatyou\'llgiveuscreditfortakingtheplainestandhonestestshort-cutthatcouldbetakenunderthecircumstances。Wehavetalkeditoverwithadealofcare(myoldladyandme)，andwehavefeltthatatalltoleadyouon，orevenatalltoletyougoonofyourownselves，wouldn\'tbetherightthing。So，Ihaveopenlygivenyoutounderstandthat——\'MrBoffinsoughtforanewturnofspeech，butcouldfindnonesoexpressiveashisformerone，repeatedinaconfidentialtone，\'——thatitwon\'tdo。IfIcouldhaveputthecasemorepleasantlyIwould；butIhopeIhaven\'tputitveryunpleasantly；atalleventsIhaven\'tmeantto。So，\'saidMrBoffin，bywayofperoration，\'wishingyouwellinthewayyougo，wenowconcludewiththeobservationthatperhapsyou\'llgoit。\'
MrLammlerosewithanimpudentlaughonhissideofthetable，andMrsLammlerosewithadisdainfulfrownonhers。Atthismomentahastyfootwasheardonthestaircase，andGeorgianaPodsnapbrokeintotheroom，unannouncedandintears。
\'Oh，mydearSophronia，\'criedGeorgiana，wringingherhandsassheranuptoembraceher，\'tothinkthatyouandAlfredshouldberuined！Oh，mypoordearSophronia，tothinkthatyoushouldhavehadaSaleatyourhouseafterallyourkindnesstome！Oh，MrandMrsBoffin，prayforgivemeforthisintrusion，butyoudon\'tknowhowfondIwasofSophroniawhenPawouldn\'tletmegothereanymore，orwhatIhavefeltforSophroniasinceIheardfromMaofherhavingbeenbroughtlowintheworld。Youdon\'t，youcan\'t，younevercan，think，howIhavelainawakeatnightandcriedformygoodSophronia，myfirstandonlyfriend！\'
MrsLammle\'smannerchangedunderthepoorsillygirl\'sembraces，andsheturnedextremelypale:directingoneappealinglook，firsttoMrsBoffin，andthentoMrBoffin。Bothunderstoodherinstantly，withamoredelicatesubtletythanmuchbettereducatedpeople，whoseperceptioncamelessdirectlyfromtheheart，couldhavebroughttobearuponthecase。
\'Ihaven\'taminute，\'saidpoorlittleGeorgiana，\'tostay。IamoutshoppingearlywithMa，andIsaidIhadaheadacheandgotMatoleavemeoutsideinthephaeton，inPiccadilly，andranroundtoSackvilleStreet，andheardthatSophroniawashere，andthenMacametosee，ohsuchadreadfuloldstonywomanfromthecountryinaturbaninPortlandPlace，andIsaidIwouldn\'tgoupwithMabutwoulddriveroundandleavecardsfortheBoffins，whichistakingalibertywiththename；butohmygoodnessIamdistracted，andthephaeton\'satthedoor，andwhatwouldPasayifheknewit！\'
\'Don\'tyebetimid，mydear，\'saidMrsBoffin。\'Youcameintoseeus。\'
\'Oh，no，Ididn\'t，\'criedGeorgiana。\'It\'sveryimpolite，Iknow，butI
cametoseemypoorSophronia，myonlyfriend。Oh！howIfelttheseparation，mydearSophronia，beforeIknewyouwerebroughtlowintheworld，andhowmuchmoreIfeelitnow！\'
Therewereactuallytearsintheboldwoman\'seyes，asthesoft-
headedandsoft-heartedgirltwinedherarmsaboutherneck。
\'ButI\'vecomeonbusiness，\'saidGeorgiana，sobbinganddryingherface，andthensearchinginalittlereticule，\'andifIdon\'tdespatchitIshallhavecomefornothing，andohgoodgracious！
whatwouldPasayifheknewofSackvilleStreet，andwhatwouldMasayifshewaskeptwaitingonthedoorstepsofthatdreadfulturban，andthereneverweresuchpawinghorsesasoursunsettlingmymindeverymomentmoreandmorewhenIwantmoremindthanIhavegot，bypawingupMrBoffin\'sstreetwheretheyhavenobusinesstobe。Oh！whereis，whereisit?Oh！Ican\'tfindit！\'
Allthistimesobbing，andsearchinginthelittlereticule。
\'Whatdoyoumiss，mydear?\'askedMrBoffin，steppingforward。
\'Oh！it\'slittleenough，\'repliedGeorgiana，\'becauseMaalwaystreatsmeasifIwasinthenursery(IamsureIwishIwas！)，butI
hardlyeverspendi
