|
Support the Monkey! Tell All your Friends and Teachers |
||||
 |
||||
|
Support the Monkey! Tell All your Friends and Teachers |
||||
|
|
||||
254 at the other end of the room, with the bachelor friend posted in a corner, to rush out at the cue ‘in death expire,’ and catch her in his arms when she died raving mad, went through the performance with extraordinary spirit, and to the great terror of the little Kenwigses, who were all but frightened into fits. The ecstasies consequent upon the effort had not yet subsided, and Newman (who had not been thoroughly sober at so late an hour for a long long time,) had not yet been able to put in a word of announcement, that the punch was ready, when a hasty knock was heard at the room-door, which elicited a shriek from Mrs Kenwigs, who immediately divined that the baby had fallen out of bed. ‘Who is that?’ demanded Mr Kenwigs, sharply. ‘Don’t be alarmed, it’s only me,’ said Crowl, looking in, in his nightcap. ‘The baby is very comfortable, for I peeped into the room as I came down, and it’s fast asleep, and so is the girl; and I don’t think the candle will set fire to the bed-curtain, unless a draught was to get into the room--it’s Mr Noggs that’s wanted.’ ‘Me!’ cried Newman, much astonished. ‘Why, it IS a queer hour, isn’t it?’ replied Crowl, who was not best pleased at the prospect of losing his fire; ‘and they are queer- looking people, too, all covered with rain and mud. Shall I tell them to go away?’ ‘No,’ said Newman, rising. ‘People? How many?’ ‘Two,’ rejoined Crowl. ‘Want me? By name?’ asked Newman. ‘By name,’ replied Crowl. ‘Mr Newman Noggs, as pat as need be.’ Newman reflected for a few seconds, and then hurried away, |
