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she besought her to bear in mind that her aforesaid dear and only
mother was of a weakly constitution and excitable temperament；
who had constantly to sustain afflictions in domestic life；
compared with which thieves and robbers were as nothing； and
yet never sunk down or gave way to despair or wrath； but； in
prize…fighting phraseology； always came up to time with a cheerful
countenance； and went in to win as if nothing had happened。
When Miggs finished her solo； her mistress struck in again； and
the two together performed a duet to the same purpose； the
burden being； that Mrs Varden was persecuted perfection； and Mr
Varden； as the representative of mankind in that apartment； a
creature of vicious and brutal habits； utterly insensible to the
blessings he enjoyed。 Of so refined a character； indeed； was their
talent of assault under the mask of sympathy； that when Dolly；
recovering； embraced her father tenderly； as in vindication of his
goodness； Mrs Varden expressed her solemn hope that this would
be a lesson to him for the remainder of his life； and that he would
do some little justice to a woman’s nature ever afterwards—in
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which aspiration Miss Miggs； by divers sniffs and coughs； more
significant than the longest oration； expressed her entire
concurrence。
But the great joy of Miggs’s heart was； that she not only picked
up a full account of what had happened； but had the exquisite
delight of conveying it to Mr Tappertit for his jealousy and torture。
For that gentleman； on account of Dolly’s indisposition； had been
requested to take his supper in the workshop； and it was conveyed
thither by Miss Miggs’s own fair hands。
‘Oh Simmun！’ said the young lady； ‘such goings on to…day！ Oh；
gracious me； Simmun！’
Mr Tappertit； who was not in the best of humours； and who
disliked Miss Miggs more when she laid her hand on her heart and
panted for breath than at any other time； as her deficiency of
outline was most apparent under such circumstances； eyed her
over in his loftiest style； and deigned to express no curiosity
whatever。
‘I never heard the like； nor nobody else；’ pursued Miggs。 ‘The
idea of interfering with her。 What people can see in her to make it
worth their while to do so； that’s the joke—he he he！’
Finding there was a lady in the case； Mr Tappertit haughtily
requested his fair friend to be more explicit； and demanded to
know what she meant by ‘her。’
‘Why； that Dolly；’ said Miggs； with an extremely sharp emphasis
on the name。 ‘But； oh upon my word and honour； young Joseph
Willet is a brave one； and he do deserve her； that he do。’
‘Woman！’ said Mr Tappertit； jumping off the counter on which
he was seated； ‘beware！’
‘My stars； Simmun！’ cried Miggs； in affected astonishment。 ‘You
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frighten me to death！ What’s the matter？’
‘There are strings；’ said Mr Tappertit； flourishing his bread…
and…cheese knife in the air； ‘in the human heart that had better
not be wibrated。 That’s what’s the matter。’
‘Oh； very well—if you’re in a huff；’ cried Miggs； turning away。
‘Huff or no huff；’ said Mr Tappertit； detaining her by the wrist。
‘What do you mean； Jezebel？ What were you going to say？ Answer
me！’
Notwithstanding this uncivil exhortation； Miggs gladly did as
she was required； and told him how that their young mistress；
being alone in the meadows after dark； had been attacked by three
or four tall men； who would have certainly borne her away and
perhaps murdered her； but for the timely arrival of Joseph Willet；
who with his own single hand put them all to flight； and rescued
her； to the lasting admiration of his fellow…creatures generally； and
to the eternal love and gratitude of Dolly Varden。
‘Very good；’ said Mr Tappertit； fetching a long breath when the
tale was told； and rubbing his hair up till it stood stiff and straight
on end all over his head。 ‘His days are numbered。’
‘Oh； Simmun！’
‘I tell you；’ said the ’prentice； ‘his days are numbered。 Leave
me。 Get along with you。’
Miggs departed at his bidding； but less because of his bidding
than because she desired to chuckle in secret。 When she had given
vent to her satisfaction； she returned to the parlour； where the
locksmith； stimulated by quietness and Toby； had become
talkative； and was disposed to take a cheerful review of the
occurrences of the day。 But Mrs Varden； whose practical religion
（as is not uncommon） was usually of the retrospective order； cut
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him short by declaiming on the sinfulness of such junketings； and
holding that it was high time to go to bed。 To bed therefore she
withdrew； with an aspect as grim and gloomy as that of the
Maypole’s own state couch； and to bed the rest of the
establishment soon afterwards repaired。
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Chapter 23
wilight had given place to night some hours； and it was
high noon in those quarters of the town in which ‘the
T
world’ condescended to dwell—the world being then； as
now； of very limited dimensions and easily lodged—when Mr
Chester reclined upon a sofa in his dressing…room in the Temple；
entertaining himself with a book。
He was dressing； as it seemed； by easy stages； and