It would be difficult to say which party appeared most pleased with this arrangement, the conclusion of which was hailed with nothing but pleasant looks and cheerful smiles on both sides.It was settled that Kit should repair to his new abode on the next day but one, in the morning; and finally, the little old couple, after bestowing a bright half-crown on little Jacob and another on the baby, took their leaves; being escorted as far as the street by their new attendant, who held the obdurate pony by the bridle while they took their seats, and saw them drive away with a lightened heart.
'Well, mother,' said Kit, hurrying back into the house, 'I think my fortune's about made now.'
'I should think it was indeed, Kit,' rejoined his mother.'Six pound a year! Only think!'
'Ah!' said Kit, trying to maintain the gravity which the consideration of such a sum demanded, but grinning with delight in spite of himself.'There's a property!'
Kit drew a long breath when he had said this, and putting his hands deep into his pockets as if there were one year's wages at least in each, looked at his mother, as though he saw through her, and down an immense perspective of sovereigns beyond.
'Please God we'll make such a lady of you for Sundays, mother! such a scholar of Jacob, such a child of the baby, such a room of the one up stairs! Six pound a year!'
'Hem!' croaked a strange voice.'What's that about six pound a year? What about six pound a year?' And as the voice made this inquiry, Daniel Quilp walked in with Richard Swiveller at his heels.
'Who said he was to have six pound a year?' said Quilp, looking sharply round.'Did the old man say it, or did little Nell say it?
And what's he to have it for, and where are they, eh!' The good woman was so much alarmed by the sudden apparition of this unknown piece of ugliness, that she hastily caught the baby from its cradle and retreated into the furthest corner of the room; while little Jacob, sitting upon his stool with his hands on his knees, looked full at him in a species of fascination, roaring lustily all the time.Richard Swiveller took an easy observation of the family over Mr Quilp's head, and Quilp himself, with his hands in his pockets, smiled in an exquisite enjoyment of the commotion he occasioned.
'Don't be frightened, mistress,' said Quilp, after a pause.'Your son knows me; I don't eat babies; I don't like 'em.It will be as well to stop that young screamer though, in case I should be tempted to do him a mischief.Holloa, sir! Will you be quiet?'
Little Jacob stemmed the course of two tears which he was squeezing out of his eyes, and instantly subsided into a silent horror.
'Mind you don't break out again, you villain,' said Quilp, looking sternly at him, 'or I'll make faces at you and throw you into fits, I will.Now you sir, why haven't you been to me as you promised?'
'What should I come for?' retorted Kit.'I hadn't any business with you, no more than you had with me.'
'Here, mistress,' said Quilp, turning quickly away, and appealing from Kit to his mother.'When did his old master come or send here last? Is he here now? If not, where's he gone?'
'He has not been here at all,' she replied.'I wish we knew where they have gone, for it would make my son a good deal easier in his mind, and me too.If you're the gentleman named Mr Quilp, I should have thought you'd have known, and so I told him only this very day.'
'Humph!' muttered Quilp, evidently disappointed to believe that this was true.'That's what you tell this gentleman too, is it?'
'If the gentleman comes to ask the same question, I can't tell him anything else, sir; and I only wish I could, for our own sakes,'
was the reply.
Quilp glanced at Richard Swiveller, and observed that having met him on the threshold, he assumed that he had come in search of some intelligence of the fugitives.He supposed he was right?
'Yes,' said Dick, 'that was the object of the present expedition.
I fancied it possible--but let us go ring fancy's knell.I'll begin it.'
'You seem disappointed,' observed Quilp.
'A baffler, Sir, a baffler, that's all,' returned Dick.'I have entered upon a speculation which has proved a baffler; and a Being of brightness and beauty will be offered up a sacrifice at Cheggs's altar.That's all, sir.'
The dwarf eyed Richard with a sarcastic smile, but Richard, who had been taking a rather strong lunch with a friend, observed him not, and continued to deplore his fate with mournful and despondent looks.Quilp plainly discerned that there was some secret reason for this visit and his uncommon disappointment, and, in the hope that there might be means of mischief lurking beneath it, resolved to worm it out.He had no sooner adopted this resolution, than he conveyed as much honesty into his face as it was capable of expressing, and sympathised with Mr Swiveller exceedingly.
'I am disappointed myself,' said Quilp, 'out of mere friendly feeling for them; but you have real reasons, private reasons I have no doubt, for your disappointment, and therefore it comes heavier than mine.'
'Why, of course it does,' Dick observed, testily.
'Upon my word, I'm very sorry, very sorry.I'm rather cast down myself.As we are companions in adversity, shall we be companions in the surest way of forgetting it? If you had no particular business, now, to lead you in another direction,' urged Quilp, plucking him by the sleeve and looking slyly up into his face out of the corners of his eyes, 'there is a house by the water-side where they have some of the noblest Schiedam--reputed to be smuggled, but that's between ourselves--that can be got in all the world.The landlord knows me.There's a little summer-house overlooking the river, where we might take a glass of this delicious liquor with a whiff of the best tobacco--it's in this case, and of the rarest quality, to my certain knowledge--and be perfectly snug and happy, could we possibly contrive it; or is there any very particular engagement that peremptorily takes you another way, Mr Swiveller, eh?'
