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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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762 breath.’ ‘Indeed!’ said Kate. ‘By George!’ replied the keeper, shaking his head so emphatically that he was obliged to frown to keep his hat on. ‘I never come across such a vagabond, and my mate says the same. Broke his poor wife’s heart, turned his daughters out of doors, drove his sons into the streets; it was a blessing he went mad at last, through evil tempers, and covetousness, and selfishness, and guzzling, and drinking, or he’d have drove many others so. Hope for him, an old rip! There isn’t too much hope going’ but I’ll bet a crown that what there is, is saved for more deserving chaps than him, anyhow.’ With which confession of his faith, the keeper shook his head again, as much as to say that nothing short of this would do, if things were to go on at all; and touching his hat sulkily--not that he was in an ill humour, but that his subject ruffled him-- descended the ladder, and took it away. During this conversation, Mrs Nickleby had regarded the man with a severe and steadfast look. She now heaved a profound sigh, and pursing up her lips, shook her head in a slow and doubtful manner. ‘Poor creature!’ said Kate. ‘Ah! poor indeed!’ rejoined Mrs Nickleby. ‘It’s shameful that such things should be allowed. Shameful!’ ‘How can they be helped, mama?’ said Kate, mournfully. ‘The infirmities of nature--’ ‘Nature!’ said Mrs Nickleby. ‘What! Do you suppose this poor gentleman is out of his mind?’ ‘Can anybody who sees him entertain any other opinion, |
