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Varden。 ‘I’m better already。’ And indeed she did appear to have
plucked up her spirits。
Joe expressed his gratitude to Providence for this favourable
dispensation； and tried to look as if he didn’t wonder where Dolly
was。
‘You’re sad people at Chigwell； Mr Joseph；’ said Mrs V。
‘I hope not； ma’am；’ returned Joe。
‘You’re the cruellest and most inconsiderate people in the
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world；’ said Mrs Varden； bridling。 ‘I wonder old Mr Willet； having
been a married man himself； doesn’t know better than to conduct
himself as he does。 His doing it for profit is no excuse。 I would
rather pay the money twenty times over； and have Varden come
home like a respectable and sober tradesman。 If there is one
character；’ said Mrs Varden with great emphasis； ‘that offends and
disgusts me more than another； it is a sot。’
‘Come； Martha； my dear；’ said the locksmith cheerily； ‘let us
have tea； and don’t let us talk about sots。 There are none here； and
Joe don’t want to hear about them； I dare say。’
At this crisis； Miggs appeared with toast。
‘I dare say he does not；’ said Mrs Varden； ‘and I dare say you do
not； Varden。 It’s a very unpleasant subject； I have no doubt；
though I won’t say it’s personal’—Miggs coughed—‘whatever I
may be forced to think’—Miggs sneezed expressively。 ‘You never
will know； Varden； and nobody at young Mr Willet’s age—you’ll
excuse me； sir—can be expected to know； what a woman suffers
when she is waiting at home under such circumstances。 If you
don’t believe me； as I know you don’t； here’s Miggs； who is only
too often a witness of it—ask her。’
‘Oh！ she were very bad the other night； sir； indeed she were；
said Miggs。 ‘If you hadn’t the sweetness of an angel in you； mim； I
don’t think you could abear it； I raly don’t。’
‘Miggs；’ said Mrs Varden； ‘you’re profane。’
‘Begging your pardon； mim；’ returned Miggs； with shrill
rapidity； ‘such was not my intentions； and such I hope is not my
character； though I am but a servant。’
‘Answering me； Miggs； and providing yourself；’ retorted her
mistress； looking round with dignity； ‘is one and the same thing。
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How dare you speak of angels in connection with your sinful
fellow…beings—mere’—said Mrs Varden； glancing at herself in a
neighbouring mirror； and arranging the ribbon of her cap in a
more becoming fashion—‘mere worms and grovellers as we are！’
‘I did not intend； mim； if you please； to give offence；’ said Miggs；
confident in the strength of her compliment； and developing
strongly in the throat as usual； ‘and I did not expect it would be
took as such。 I hope I know my own unworthiness； and that I hate
and despise myself and all my fellow…creatures as every
practicable Christian should。’
‘You’ll have the goodness； if you please；’ said Mrs Varden；
loftily； ‘to step upstairs and see if Dolly has finished dressing； and
to tell her that the chair that was ordered for her will be here in a
minute； and that if she keeps it waiting； I shall send it away that
instant。—I’m sorry to see that you don’t take your tea； Varden； and
that you don’t take yours； Mr Joseph； though of course it would be
foolish of me to expect that anything that can be had at home； and
in the company of females； would please you。’
This pronoun was understood in the plural sense； and included
both gentlemen； upon both of whom it was rather hard and
undeserved； for Gabriel had applied himself to the meal with a
very promising appetite； until it was spoilt by Mrs Varden herself；
and Joe had as great a liking for the female society of the
locksmith’s house—or for a part of it at all events—as man could
well entertain。
But he had no opportunity to say anything in his own defence；
for at that moment Dolly herself appeared； and struck him quite
dumb with her beauty。 Never had Dolly looked so handsome as
she did then； in all the glow and grace of youth； with all her
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charms increased a hundredfold by a most becoming dress； by a
thousand little coquettish ways which nobody could assume with a
better grace； and all the sparkling expectation of that accursed
party。 It is impossible to tell how Joe hated that party wherever it
was； and all the other people who were going to it； whoever they
were。
And she hardly looked at him—no； hardly looked at him。 And
when the chair was seen through the open door coming
blundering into the workshop； she actually clapped her hands and
seemed glad to go。 But Joe gave her his arm—there was some
comfort in that—and handed her into it。 To see her seat herself
inside； with her laughing eyes brighter than diamonds； and her
hand—surely she had the prettiest hand in the world—on the
ledge of the open window； and her little finger provokingly and
pertly tilted up； as if it wondered why Joe didn’t squeeze or kiss it！
To think how well one or two of the modest snowdrops would have
become that delicate bodice； and how they were lying neglected
outside the parlour window！ To see how Miggs looked on with a
face expressive of knowing how all this loveliness was got up； and
of being in the secret of every string and pin and hook and eye；
and of saying it ain’t half as real as you think； and I could look
quite as well myself if I took the pains！ To hear that provoking
precious little scream when the chair was hoisted on i