THE PICKWICK CLUB. 329
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^■^deposited on the landings outside the door.
Notwithstanding the highly satisfactocy nature of all these arrange- ments, there was a cloud on the countenance of Mr. Bob Sawyer, as he sat by the fire side. There was a sympathising expression, too, in the features of Mr. Ben Allen, as he gazed intently on the coals ; and a tone of melancholy in his voice, as he said, after a long silence —
" Well, it if unlucky that she should have taken it in her head to turn sour, just on this occasion. She might at least have waited till to-morrow."
" That's her malevolence ; that's her malevolence," returned Mr. Bob Sawyer vehemently. " She says that if I can afford to give a party I ought to be able to afford to pay her confounded ' little bill'."
" How long has it been running?" inquired Mr. Ben Allen. A bill, by the bye, is the most extraordinary locomotive engine that the genius of man ever produced. It would keep on running during the longest life-time, without ever once stopping of its own accord.
"Only a quarter, and a month or so," replied Mr. Bob Sawyer.
Ben Allen coughed hopelessly, and directed a searching look between the two top bars of the stove.
" It'll be a deuced unpleasant thing if she takes it into her head to let out, when those fellows are here, won't it ? " said Mr. Ben Allen at length.
" Horrible," replied Bob Sawyer, " horrible."
A low tap was heard at the room door. Mr. Bob Sawyer looked expressively at his friend, and bade the tapper come in ; whereupon a dirty slipshod girl in black cotton stockings, who might have passed for the neglected daughtei of a superannuated dustman in very reduced circumstances, thrust in her head, and said,
" Please, Mister Savvyer, Missis Raddle wants to speak to i/ou."
Before Mr. Bob Sawyer could return any answer, the girl suddenly disappeared with a jerk, as if somebody had given her a violent pull behind ; this mysterious exit was no sooner accomplished, than there was another tap at the door — a smart pointed tap, which seemed to say, " Here I am, and in I'm coming."
Mr. Bob Sawyer glanced at his friend with a look of abject appre- hension, and once more cried " Come in."
The permission was not at all necessary, for, before Mr. Bob Sawyer had uttered the words, a little fierce woman bounced into the room, all in a tremble with passion, and pale with rage.
" Now Mr. Sawyer," said the little fierce woman, trying to appear very calm-, " if you'll have the kindness to settle that little bill of mine I'll thank you, because I've got my rent to pay this afternoon, and my land- lord's a waiting below now." Here the little woman rubbed her hands, and looked steadily over Mr. Bob Sawyer's head, at the wall behind him.
" I am very sorry to put you to any inconvenience, Mrs. Raddle," said Bob Sawyer deferentially, " but — "
" Oh, it isn't any inconvenience," replied the little woman, with a shrill titter. " I didn't want it particular before to-day ; leastways> a»
