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inheritances； would forgit that she was the humble instruments as
always made it comfortable between them two when they fell out；
and always told master of the meekness and forgiveness of her
blessed dispositions！ Did she think as Miggs had no attachments！
Did she think that wages was her only object！’
To none of these interrogatories； whereof every one was more
pathetically delivered than the last； did Mrs Varden answer one
word： but Miggs； not at all abashed by this circumstance； turned to
the small boy in attendance—her eldest nephew—son of her own
married sister—born in Golden Lion Court； number twenty…sivin；
and bred in the very shadow of the second bell…handle on the
right…hand door…post—and with a plentiful use of her pocket…
handkerchief； addressed herself to him： requesting that on his
return home he would console his parents for the loss of her； his
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aunt； by delivering to them a faithful statement of his having left
her in the bosom of that family； with which； as his aforesaid
parents well knew； her best affections were incorporated； that he
would remind them that nothing less than her imperious sense of
duty； and devoted attachment to her old master and missis；
likewise Miss Dolly and young Mr Joe； should ever have induced
her to decline that pressing invitation which they； his parents； had；
as he could testify； given her； to lodge and board with them； free of
all cost and charge； for evermore； lastly； that he would help her
with her box upstairs； and then repair straight home； bearing her
blessing and her strong injunctions to mingle in his prayers a
supplication that he might in course of time grow up a locksmith；
or a Mr Joe； and have Mrs Vardens and Miss Dollys for his
relations and friends。
Having brought this admonition to an end—upon which； to say
the truth； the young gentleman for whose benefit it was designed；
bestowed little or no heed； having to all appearance his faculties
absorbed in the contemplation of the sweetmeats；—Miss Miggs
signified to the company in general that they were not to be
uneasy； for she would soon return； and； with her nephew’s aid；
prepared to bear her wardrobe up the staircase。
‘My dear；’ said the locksmith to his wife。 ‘Do you desire this？’
‘I desire it！’ she answered。 ‘I am astonished—I am amazed—at
her audacity。 Let her leave the house this moment。’
Miggs； hearing this； let her end of the box fall heavily to the
floor； gave a very loud sniff； crossed her arms； screwed down the
corners of her mouth； and cried； in an ascending scale； ‘Ho； good
gracious！’ three distinct times。
‘You hear what your mistress says； my love；’ remarked the
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locksmith。 ‘You had better go； I think。 Stay； take this with you； for
the sake of old service。’
Miss Miggs clutched the bank…note he took from his pocket…
book and held out to her； deposited it in a small； red leather purse；
put the purse in her pocket （displaying； as she did so； a
considerable portion of some under…garment； made of flannel； and
more black cotton stocking than is commonly seen in public）； and；
tossing her head； as she looked at Mrs Varden； repeated—
‘Ho； good gracious！’
‘I think you said that once before； my dear；’ observed the
locksmith。
‘Times is changed； is they； mim！’ cried Miggs； bridling； ‘you can
spare me now； can you？ You can keep ’em down without me？
You’re not in wants of any one to scold； or throw the blame upon；
no longer； an’t you； mim？ I’m glad to find you’ve grown so
independent。 I wish you joy； I’m sure！’
With that she dropped a curtsey； and keeping her head erect；
her ear towards Mrs Varden； and her eye on the rest of the
company； as she alluded to them in her remarks； proceeded：
‘I’m quite delighted； I’m sure； to find sich independency； feeling
sorry though； at the same time； mim； that you should have been
forced into submissions when you couldn’t help yourself—he he
he！ It must be great vexations； ‘specially considering how ill you
always spoke of Mr Joe—to have him for a son…in…law at last； and I
wonder Miss Dolly can put up with him； either； after being off and
on for so many years with a coachmaker。 But I have heerd say；
that the coachmaker thought twice about it—he he he！—and that
he told a young man as was a frind of his； that he hoped he
knowed better than to be drawed into that； though she and all the
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family did pull uncommon strong！’
Here she paused for a reply； and receiving none； went on as
before。
‘I have heerd say； mim； that the illnesses of some ladies was all
pretensions； and that they could faint away； stone dead； whenever
they had the inclinations so to do。 Of course I never see sich cases
with my own eyes—ho no！ He he he！ Nor master neither—ho no！
He he he！ I have heerd the neighbours make remark as some one
as they was acquainted with； was a poor good…natur’d mean…
spirited creetur； as went out fishing for a wife one day； and caught
a Tartar。 Of course I never to my knowledge see the poor person
himself。 Nor did you neither； mim—ho no。 I wonder who it can
be—don’t you； mim？ No doubt you do； mim。 Ho yes。 He he he！’
Again Miggs paused for a reply； and none being offered； was so
oppressed with teeming spite and spleen； that she seemed like to
burst。
‘I’m glad Miss Dolly can laugh；’ cried Miggs with a feeble titter。
‘I like to see folks a…laughing—so do you； mim； don’t you？ You was
always glad to see people in spirits； wasn’t you； mim？ And you
always did your best to keep ’em cheerful； didn’t