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little villain！’
This conclusion was not arrived at without consideration； and
much peeping and peering about； nor was it unassisted by the
recollection that she had on several occasions come upon the
’prentice suddenly； and found him busy at some mysterious
occupation。 Lest the fact of Miss Miggs calling him； on whom she
stooped to cast a favourable eye； a boy； should create surprise in
any breast； it may be observed that she invariably affected to
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regard all male bipeds under thirty as mere chits and infants；
which phenomenon is not unusual in ladies of Miss Miggs’s
temper； and is indeed generally found to be the associate of such
indomitable and savage virtue。
Miss Miggs deliberated within herself for some little time；
looking hard at the shop…door while she did so； as though her eyes
and thoughts were both upon it； and then； taking a sheet of paper
from a drawer； twisted it into a long thin spiral tube。 Having filled
this instrument with a quantity of small coal…dust from the forge；
she approached the door； and dropping on one knee before it；
dexterously blew into the keyhole as much of these fine ashes as
the lock would hold。 When she had filled it to the brim in a very
workmanlike and skilful manner； she crept upstairs again； and
chuckled as she went。
‘There！’ cried Miggs； rubbing her hands； ‘now let’s see whether
you won’t be glad to take some notice of me； mister。 He； he； he！
You’ll have eyes for somebody besides Miss Dolly now； I think。 A
fat…faced puss she is； as ever I come across！’
As she uttered this criticism； she glanced approvingly at her
small mirror； as who should say； I thank my stars that can’t be said
of me！—as it certainly could not； for Miss Miggs’s style of beauty
was of that kind which Mr Tappertit himself had not inaptly
termed； in private； ‘scraggy。’
‘I don’t go to bed this night！’ said Miggs； wrapping herself in a
shawl； and drawing a couple of chairs near the window； flouncing
down upon one； and putting her feet upon the other； ’till you come
home； my lad。 I wouldn’t；’ said Miggs viciously； ‘no； not for five…
and…forty pound！’
With that； and with an expression of face in which a great
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number of opposite ingredients； such as mischief； cunning； malice；
triumph； and patient expectation； were all mixed up together in a
kind of physiognomical punch； Miss Miggs composed herself to
wait and listen； like some fair ogress who had set a trap and was
watching for a nibble from a plump young traveller。
She sat there； with perfect composure； all night。 At length； just
upon break of day； there was a footstep in the street； and presently
she could hear Mr Tappertit stop at the door。 Then she could
make out that he tried his key—that he was blowing into it—that
he knocked it on the nearest post to beat the dust out—that he
took it under a lamp to look at it—that he poked bits of stick into
the lock to clear it—that he peeped into the keyhole； first with one
eye； and then with the other—that he tried the key again—that he
couldn’t turn it； and what was worse； couldn’t get it out—that he
bent it—that then it was much less disposed to come out than
before—that he gave it a mighty twist and a great pull； and then it
came out so suddenly that he staggered backwards—that he
kicked the door—that he shook it—finally； that he smote his
forehead； and sat down on the step in despair。
When this crisis had arrived； Miss Miggs； affecting to be
exhausted with terror； and to cling to the window…sill for support；
put out her nightcap； and demanded in a faint voice who was
there。
Mr Tappertit cried ‘Hush！’ and； backing to the road； exhorted
her in frenzied pantomime to secrecy and silence。
‘Tell me one thing；’ said Miggs。 ‘Is it thieves？’
‘No—no—no！’ cried Mr Tappertit。
‘Then；’ said Miggs； more faintly than before； ‘it’s fire。 Where is
it； sir？ It’s near this room； I know。 I’ve a good conscience； sir； and
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would much rather die than go down a ladder。 All I wish is；
respecting my love to my married sister； Golden Lion Court；
number twenty…sivin； second bell…handle on the right…hand door…
post。’
‘Miggs！’ cried Mr Tappertit； ‘don’t you know me？ Sim； you
know—Sim—’
‘Oh！ what about him！’ cried Miggs； clasping her hands。 ‘Is he in
any danger？ Is he in the midst of flames and blazes！ Oh gracious；
gracious！’
‘Why I’m here； an’t I？’ rejoined Mr Tappertit； knocking himself
on the breast。 ‘Don’t you see me？ What a fool you are； Miggs！’
‘There！’ cried Miggs； unmindful of this compliment。 ‘Why—so
it—Goodness； what is the meaning of—If you please； mim；
here’s—’
‘No； no！’ cried Mr Tappertit； standing on tiptoe； as if by that
means he； in the street； were any nearer being able to stop the
mouth of Miggs in the garret。 ‘Don’t！—I’ve been out without leave；
and something or another’s the matter with the lock。 Come down；
and undo the shop window； that I may get in that way。’
‘I dursn’t do it； Simmun；’ cried Miggs—for that was her
pronunciation of his Christian name。 ‘I dursn’t do it； indeed。 You
know as well as anybody； how particular I am。 And to come down
in the dead of night； when the house is wrapped in slumbers and
weiled in obscurity。’ And there she stopped and shivered； for her
modesty caught cold at the very thought。
‘But Miggs；’ cried Mr Tappertit； getting under the lamp； that
she might see his eyes。 ‘My darling Miggs—’
Miggs screamed slightly。
‘—That I love so much； and never c