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‘You waited anxiously；’ repeated Mrs V。 ‘Yes！ Thank you；
Varden。 You waited； as you always do； that I might bear the blame；
if any came of it。 But I am used to it；’ said the lady with a kind of
solemn titter； ‘and that’s my comfort！’
‘I give you my word； Martha—’ said Gabriel。
‘Let me give you my word； my dear；’ interposed his wife with a
Christian smile； ‘that such discussions as these between married
people； are much better left alone。 Therefore； if you please；
Varden； we’ll drop the subject。 I have no wish to pursue it。 I could。
I might say a great deal。 But I would rather not。 Pray don’t say any
more。’
‘I don’t want to say any more；’ rejoined the goaded locksmith。
‘Well then； don’t；’ said Mrs Varden。 ‘Nor did I begin it； Martha；’
added the locksmith； good…humouredly； ‘I must say that。’
‘You did not begin it； Varden！’ exclaimed his wife； opening her
eyes very wide and looking round upon the company； as though
she would say； You hear this man！ ‘You did not begin it； Varden！
But you shall not say I was out of temper。 No； you did not begin it；
oh dear no； not you； my dear！’
‘Well； well；’ said the locksmith。 ‘That’s settled then。’
‘Oh yes；’ rejoined his wife； ‘quite。 If you like to say Dolly began
it； my dear； I shall not contradict you。 I know my duty。 I need
know it； I am sure。 I am often obliged to bear it in mind； when my
inclination perhaps would be for the moment to forget it。 Thank
you； Varden。’ And so； with a mighty show of humility and
forgiveness； she folded her hands； and looked round again； with a
smile which plainly said； ‘If you desire to see the first and foremost
among female martyrs； here she is； on view！’
This little incident； illustrative though it was of Mrs Varden’s
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Barnaby Rudge 213
extraordinary sweetness and amiability； had so strong a tendency
to check the conversation and to disconcert all parties but that
excellent lady； that only a few monosyllables were uttered until
Edward withdrew； which he presently did； thanking the lady of
the house a great many times for her condescension； and
whispering in Dolly’s ear that he would call on the morrow； in case
there should happen to be an answer to the note—which； indeed；
she knew without his telling； as Barnaby and his friend Grip had
dropped in on the previous night to prepare her for the visit which
was then terminating。
Gabriel； who had attended Edward to the door； came back with
his hands in his pockets； and； after fidgeting about the room in a
very uneasy manner； and casting a great many sidelong looks at
Mrs Varden （who with the calmest countenance in the world was
five fathoms deep in the Protestant Manual）； inquired of Dolly how
she meant to go。 Dolly supposed by the stage…coach； and looked at
her lady mother； who finding herself silently appealed to； dived
down at least another fathom into the Manual； and became
unconscious of all earthly things。
‘Martha—’ said the locksmith。
‘I hear you； Varden；’ said his wife； without rising to the surface。
‘I am sorry； my dear； you have such an objection to the Maypole
and old John； for otherways as it’s a very fine morning； and
Saturday’s not a busy day with us； we might have all three gone to
Chigwell in the chaise； and had quite a happy day of it。’
Mrs Varden immediately closed the Manual； and bursting into
tears； requested to be led upstairs。
‘What is the matter now； Martha？’ inquired the locksmith。
To which Martha rejoined； ‘Oh！ don’t speak to me；’ and
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Barnaby Rudge 214
protested in agony that if anybody had told her so； she wouldn’t
have believed it。
‘But； Martha；’ said Gabriel； putting himself in the way as she
was moving off with the aid of Dolly’s shoulder； ‘wouldn’t have
believed what？ Tell me what’s wrong now。 Do tell me。 Upon my
soul I don’t know。 Do you know； child？ Damme！’ cried the
locksmith； plucking at his wig in a kind of frenzy； ‘nobody does
know； I verily believe； but Miggs！’
‘Miggs；’ said Mrs Varden faintly； and with symptoms of
approaching incoherence； ‘is attached to me； and that is sufficient
to draw down hatred upon her in this house。 She is a comfort to
me； whatever she may be to others。’
‘She’s no comfort to me；’ cried Gabriel； made bold by despair。
‘She’s the misery of my life。 She’s all the plagues of Egypt in one。’
‘She’s considered so； I have no doubt；’ said Mrs Varden。 ‘I was
prepared for that； it’s natural； it’s of a piece with the rest。 When
you taunt me as you do to my face； how can I wonder that you
taunt her behind her back！’ And here the incoherence coming on
very strong； Mrs Varden wept； and laughed； and sobbed； and
shivered； and hiccoughed； and choked； and said she knew it was
very foolish but she couldn’t help it； and that when she was dead
and gone； perhaps they would be sorry for it—which really under
the circumstances did not appear quite so probable as she seemed
to think—with a great deal more to the same effect。 In a word； she
passed with great decency through all the ceremonies incidental
to such occasions； and being supported upstairs； was deposited in
a highly spasmodic state on her own bed； where Miss Miggs
shortly afterwards flung herself upon the body。
The philosophy of all this was； that Mrs Varden wanted to go to
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Barnaby Rudge 215
Chigwell； that she did not want to make any concession or
explanation； that she would only go on being implored and
entreated so to do； and that she would accept no othe