'Please to take a seat, sir,' said Mrs Chivery. 'Miss Dorrit is the

matter with Our John, sir; he's a breaking his heart for her, and I

would wish to take the liberty to ask how it's to be made good to his

parents when bust?'

Mrs Chivery, who was a comfortable-looking woman much respected about

Horsemonger Lane for her feelings and her conversation, uttered this

speech with fell composure, and immediately afterwards began again to

shake her head and dry her eyes.

'Sir,' said she in continuation, 'you are acquainted with the family,

and have interested yourself with the family, and are influential with

the family. If you can promote views calculated to make two young people

happy, let me, for Our john's sake, and for both their sakes, implore

you so to do!' 'I have been so habituated,' returned Arthur, at a loss, 'during

the short time I have known her, to consider Little--I have been so

habituated to consider Miss Dorrit in a light altogether removed from

that in which you present her to me, that you quite take me by surprise.

Does she know your son?'

'Brought up together, sir,' said Mrs Chivery. 'Played together.' 'Does she know your son as her admirer?' 'Oh! bless you, sir,' said Mrs Chivery, with a sort of triumphant

shiver, 'she never could have seen him on a Sunday without knowing he

was that. His cane alone would have told it long ago, if nothing else

had. Young men like John don't take to ivory hands a pinting, for

nothing. How did I first know it myself? Similarly.'

'Perhaps Miss Dorrit may not be so ready as you, you see.' 'Then she knows it, sir,' said Mrs Chivery, 'by word of mouth.' 'Are you sure?'

'Sir,' said Mrs Chivery, 'sure and certain as in this house I am. I see

my son go out with my own eyes when in this house I was, and I see my

son come in with my own eyes when in this house I was, and I know he

done it!' Mrs Chivery derived a surprising force of emphasis from the

foregoing circumstantiality and repetition.

'May I ask you how he came to fall into the desponding state which

causes you so much uneasiness?' 'That,' said Mrs Chivery, 'took place on that same day when to this

house I see that John with these eyes return. Never been himself in this

house since. Never was like what he has been since, not from the hour

when to this house seven year ago me and his father, as tenants by the

quarter, came!' An effect in the nature of an affidavit was gained from

this speech by Mrs Chivery's peculiar power of construction. 'May I

venture to inquire what is your version of the matter?'




readonlinefreebook.com Copyright 2016 - 2024