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Ah! said the spokeswoman, I wish youd give her a little of your advice, Mrs JiniwinMrs Quilp had been a Miss Jiniwin, it should be observednobody knows better than you, maam, what us women owe to ourselves. Owe indeed, maam! replied Mrs Jiniwin. When my poor husband, her dear father, was alive, if he had ever venturd a cross word to me, Id have the good old lady did not finish the sentence, but she twisted off the head of a shrimp with a vindictiveness which seemed to imply that the action was in some degree a substitute for words. In this light it was clearly understood by the other party, who immediately replied with great approbation, You quite enter into my feelings, maam, and its jist what Id do myself. But you have no call to do it, said Mrs Jiniwin. Luckily for you, you have no more occasion to do it than I had. No woman need have, if she was true to herself, rejoined the stout lady. Do you hear that, Betsy? said Mrs Jiniwin, in a warning voice. How often have I said the very same words to you, and almost gone down on my knees when I spoke em! Poor Mrs Quilp, who had looked in a state of helplessness from one face of condolence to another, coloured, smiled, and shook her head doubtfully. This was the signal for a general clamour, which beginning in a low murmur gradually swelled into a great noise in which everybody spoke at once, and all said that she being a young woman had no right to set up her opinions against the experiences of those who knew so much better; that it was very wrong of her not to take the advice of people who had nothing at heart but her good; that it was next door to being downright ungrateful to conduct herself in that manner; that if she had no respect for herself she ought to have some for other women, all of whom she compromised by her meekness; and that if she had no respect for other women, the time would come when other women would have no respect for her; and she would be very sorry for that, they could tell her. Having dealt out these admonitions, the ladies fell to a more powerful assault than they had yet made upon the mixed tea, new bread, fresh butter, shrimps, and water-cresses, and said that their vexation was so great to see her going on like that, that they could hardly bring themselves to eat a single morsel. Its all very fine to talk, said Mrs Quilp with much simplicity, but I know that if I was to die tomorrow, Quilp could marry anybody he pleasednow that he could, I know! There was quite a scream of indignation at this idea. Marry whom he pleased! They would like to see him dare to think of marrying any of them; they would like to see the faintest approach to such a thing. One lady (a widow) was quite certain she should stab him if he hinted at it. Very well, said Mrs Quilp, nodding her head, as I said just now, its very easy to talk, but I say again that I knowthat Im sureQuilp has such a way with him when he likes, that the best-looking woman here couldnt refuse him if I was dead, and she was free, and he chose to make love to her. Come! Everybody bridled up at this remark, as much as to say I know you mean me. Let him trythats all. and yet for some hidden reason they were all angry with the widow, and each lady whispered in her neighbours ear that it was very plain that said widow thought herself the person referred to, and what a puss she was! Mother knows, said Mrs Quilp, that what I say is quite correct, for she often said so before we were married. Didnt you say so, mother? This inquiry involved the respected lady in rather a delicate position, for she certainly had been an active party in making her daughter Mrs Quilp, and, besides, it was not supporting the family credit to encourage the idea that she had married a man whom nobody else would have. On the other hand, to exaggerate the captivating qualities of her son-in-law would be to weaken the cause of revolt, in which all her energies |
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