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which both Miggs and Mrs Varden screamed； ‘this was a bishop’s。
Beware； G。 Varden！’
‘Now； I would rather；’ said the locksmith hastily； ‘have paid five
hundred pounds； than had this come to pass。 You idiot； do you
know what peril you stand in？’
‘I know it； sir；’ replied his journeyman； ‘and it is my glory。 I was
there； everybody saw me there。 I was conspicuous； and prominent。
I will abide the consequences。’
The locksmith； really disturbed and agitated； paced to and fro
in silence—glancing at his former ’prentice every now and then—
and at length stopping before him； said：
‘Get to bed； and sleep for a couple of hours that you may wake
penitent； and with some of your senses about you。 Be sorry for
what you have done； and we will try to save you。 If I call him by
five o’clock；’ said Varden； turning hurriedly to his wife； and he
washes himself clean and changes his dress； he may get to the
Tower Stairs； and away by the Gravesend tide…boat； before any
search is made for him。 From there he can easily get on to
Canterbury； where your cousin will give him work till this storm
has blown over。 I am not sure that I do right in screening him from
the punishment he deserves； but he has lived in this house； man
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and boy； for a dozen years； and I should be sorry if for this one
day’s work he made a miserable end。 Lock the front…door； Miggs；
and show no light towards the street when you go upstairs。 Quick；
Simon！ Get to bed！’
‘And do you suppose； sir；’ retorted Mr Tappertit； with a
thickness and slowness of speech which contrasted forcibly with
the rapidity and earnestness of his kind…hearted master—‘and do
you suppose； sir； that I am base and mean enough to accept your
servile proposition？—Miscreant！’
‘Whatever you please； Sim； but get to bed。 Every minute is of
consequence。 The light here； Miggs！’
‘Yes yes； oh do！ Go to bed directly；’ cried the two women
together。
Mr Tappertit stood upon his feet； and pushing his chair away to
show that he needed no assistance； answered； swaying himself to
and fro； and managing his head as if it had no connection
whatever with his body：
‘You spoke of Miggs； sir—Miggs may be smothered！’
‘Oh Simmun！’ ejaculated that young lady in a faint voice。 ‘Oh
mim！ Oh sir！ Oh goodness gracious； what a turn he has give me！’
‘This family may all be smothered； sir；’ returned Mr Tappertit；
after glancing at her with a smile of ineffable disdain； ’excepting
Mrs V。 I have come here； sir； for her sake； this night。 Mrs Varden；
take this piece of paper。 It’s a protection； ma’am。 You may need it。’
With these words he held out at arm’s length； a dirty； crumpled
scrap of writing。 The locksmith took it from him； opened it； and
read as follows：
‘All good friends to our cause； I hope will be particular； and do
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no injury to the property of any true Protestant。 I am well assured
that the proprietor of this house is a staunch and worthy friend to
the cause。
GEORGE GORDON。’
‘What’s this！’ said the locksmith； with an altered face。
‘Something that’ll do you good service； young feller；’ replied his
journeyman； ‘as you’ll find。 Keep that safe； and where you can lay
your hand upon it in an instant。 And chalk “No Popery” on your
door to…morrow night； and for a week to come—that’s all。’
‘This is a genuine document；’ said the locksmith； ‘I know； for I
have seen the hand before。 What threat does it imply？ What devil
is abroad？’
‘A fiery devil；’ retorted Sim； ‘a flaming； furious devil。 Don’t you
put yourself in its way； or you’re done for； my buck。 Be warned in
time； G。 Varden。 Farewell！’
But here the two women threw themselves in his way—
especially Miss Miggs； who fell upon him with such fervour that
she pinned him against the wall—and conjured him in moving
words not to go forth till he was sober； to listen to reason； to think
of it； to take some rest； and then determine。
‘I tell you；’ said Mr Tappertit； ‘that my mind is made up。 My
bleeding country calls me and I go！ Miggs； if you don’t get out of
the way； I’ll pinch you。’
Miss Miggs； still clinging to the rebel； screamed once
vociferously—but whether in the distraction of her mind； or
because of his having executed his threat； is uncertain。
‘Release me；’ said Simon； struggling to free himself from her
chaste； but spider…like embrace。 ‘Let me go！ I have made
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arrangements for you in an altered state of society； and mean to
provide for you comfortably in life—there！ Will that satisfy you？’
‘Oh Simmun！’ cried Miss Miggs。 ‘Oh my blessed Simmun！ Oh
mim！ what are my feelings at this conflicting moment！’
Of a rather turbulent description； it would seem； for her
nightcap had been knocked off in the scuffle； and she was on her
knees upon the floor； making a strange revelation of blue and
yellow curl…papers； straggling locks of hair； tags of staylaces； and
strings of it’s impossible to say what； panting for breath； clasping
her hands； turning her eyes upwards； shedding abundance of
tears； and exhibiting various other symptoms of the acutest mental
suffering。
‘I leave；’ said Simon； turning to his master； with an utter
disregard of Miggs’s maidenly affliction； ‘a box of things upstairs。
Do what you like with ’em。 I don’t want ’em。 I’m never coming
back here； any more。 Provide yourself； sir； with a journeyman； I’m
my country’s journeyman； henceforward that’s my line of
business。