The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 396: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

COVENT GARDEN 361 urday evening, and it’s on rather a memorable occasion. The fact is, I and Mrs. Sifkin have not been on speaking terms with each other for the last ten years. Not that it was any fault of mine, you know, because I am quite in- capable of giving offence even to a worm, much less a human being that walks upright on two legs. It was all owing to jealousy on Mrs. Sifkin’s part. However she has made over- tures through Mrs. Dumpling, a lady in the same street. She lets lodgings, too, does Mrs. Dumpling, and between you and me, wretched apartments they are. You wouldn’t believe it, my dear Mr. Ashton,’ added Mrs. Macaulay, in a voice of awful mystery, “ no, you never would believe it, kut it is as true as I am a living woman.” ‘‘ What’s true?’ asked Christian. “ Bugs, my young friend, — bugs, I can assure you,’ replied Mrs. Macaulay. ‘‘ Nothing should induce me to say such a thing of a neighbour, if it wasn’t the case. If they were fleas only, but bugs — dreadful! ”’ ‘“‘ Dreadful indeed,” muttered Christian, with a sensation as if something disagreeable were creeping over him under his clothes. ‘“ However,’ proceeded Mrs. Macaulay, ‘‘ barring the bugs, Mrs. Dumpling is a very excellent neighbour, and a kind- hearted woman, though she does give nothing but that odious currant wine of hers and captain’s biscuits, with maybe a stale tart or two, for supper when she has a little party. Still she is a good woman, and she went right across yesterday morning to Mrs. Sifkin, and told her her mind about her conduct toward me. I dare say that Mrs. Dump- ling did come out rather strong, because I know that she had had a leetle drop of brandy beforehand, — in fact, it was out of a bottle that Mr. Redcliffe, poor dear soul! sent down from his room. However the long and short of it was that Mrs. Sifkin confessed the errors of her ways, and Mrs. Dumpling proposed that if Mrs. Sifkin would send me over an apology through her, I would give a party to clinch the reconciliation and celebrate the event. So I mean to do the thing nicely, and give a pretty spread on Saturday evening, and if you and your dear sister will favour me with your company, I shall be delighted.”’ ‘“I cannot say how my sister may be engaged,’’ answered Christian, ‘‘ and I do not for a moment think that she will be “a ¢om (@) IDoOoks (E(0)