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Support the Monkey! Tell All your Friends and Teachers |
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Support the Monkey! Tell All your Friends and Teachers |
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608 ground, picking up the demnition gold and silver.’ ‘I am ashamed of you,’ said Madame Mantalini, with much indignation. ‘Ashamed--of me, my joy? It knows it is talking demd charming sweetness, but naughty fibs,’ returned Mr Mantalini. ‘It knows it is not ashamed of its own popolorum tibby.’ Whatever were the circumstances which had led to such a result, it certainly appeared as though the popolorum tibby had rather miscalculated, for the nonce, the extent of his lady’s affection. Madame Mantalini only looked scornful in reply; and, turning to Ralph, begged him to excuse her intrusion. ‘Which is entirely attributable,’ said Madame, ‘to the gross misconduct and most improper behaviour of Mr Mantalini.’ ‘Of me, my essential juice of pineapple!’ ‘Of you,’ returned his wife. ‘But I will not allow it. I will not submit to be ruined by the extravagance and profligacy of any man. I call Mr Nickleby to witness the course I intend to pursue with you.’ ‘Pray don’t call me to witness anything, ma’am,’ said Ralph. ‘Settle it between yourselves, settle it between yourselves.’ ‘No, but I must beg you as a favour,’ said Madame Mantalini, ‘to hear me give him notice of what it is my fixed intention to do--my fixed intention, sir,’ repeated Madame Mantalini, darting an angry look at her husband. ‘Will she call me “Sir”?’ cried Mantalini. ‘Me who dote upon her with the demdest ardour! She, who coils her fascinations round me like a pure angelic rattlesnake! It will be all up with my feelings; she will throw me into a demd state.’ ‘Don’t talk of feelings, sir,’ rejoined Madame Mantalini, seating |
