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other horrible disorder which racked her whole frame。 If she did
enjoy a moment’s ease； then with her eyes shut and her mouth
wide open； she would be seen to sit very stiff and upright in her
chair； then to nod a little way forward； and stop with a jerk； then
to nod a little farther forward； and stop with another jerk； then to
recover herself； then to come forward again—lower—lower—
lower—by very slow degrees； until； just as it seemed impossible
that she could preserve her balance for another instant； and the
locksmith was about to call out in an agony； to save her from
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dashing down upon her forehead and fracturing her skull； then all
of a sudden and without the smallest notice； she would come
upright and rigid again with her eyes open； and in her
countenance an expression of defiance； sleepy but yet most
obstinate； which plainly said； ‘I’ve never once closed ’em since I
looked at you last； and I’ll take my oath of it！’
At length； after the clock had struck two； there was a sound at
the street door； as if somebody had fallen against the knocker by
accident。 Miss Miggs immediately jumping up and clapping her
hands； cried with a drowsy mingling of the sacred and profane；
‘Ally Looyer； mim！ there’s Simmuns’s knock！’
‘Who’s there？’ said Gabriel。
‘Me！’ cried the well…known voice of Mr Tappertit。 Gabriel
opened the door； and gave him admission。
He did not cut a very insinuating figure； for a man of his stature
suffers in a crowd； and having been active in yesterday morning’s
work； his dress was literally crushed from head to foot： his hat
being beaten out of all shape； and his shoes trodden down at heel
like slippers。 His coat fluttered in strips about him； the buckles
were torn away both from his knees and feet； half his neckerchief
was gone； and the bosom of his shirt was rent to tatters。 Yet
notwithstanding all these personal disadvantages； despite his
being very weak from heat and fatigue； and so begrimed with mud
and dust that he might have been in a case； for anything of the real
texture （either of his skin or apparel） that the eye could discern； he
stalked haughtily into the parlour； and throwing himself into a
chair； and endeavouring to thrust his hands into the pockets of his
small…clothes； which were turned inside out and displayed upon
his legs； like tassels； surveyed the household with a gloomy
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dignity。
‘Simon；’ said the locksmith gravely； ‘how comes it that you
return home at this time of night； and in this condition？ Give me
an assurance that you have not been among the rioters； and I am
satisfied。’
‘Sir；’ replied Mr Tappertit； with a contemptuous look； ‘I wonder
at your assurance in making such demands。’
‘You have been drinking；’ said the locksmith。
‘As a general principle； and in the most offensive sense of the
words； sir；’ returned his journeyman with great self…possession； ‘I
consider you a liar。 In that last observation you have
unintentionally—unintentionally； sir；—struck upon the truth。’
‘Martha；’ said the locksmith； turning to his wife； and shaking
his head sorrowfully； while a smile at the absurd figure beside him
still played upon his open face； ‘I trust it may turn out that this
poor lad is not the victim of the knaves and fools we have so often
had words about； and who have done so much harm to…day。 If he
has been at Warwick Street or Duke Street to…night—’
‘He has been at neither； sir；’ cried Mr Tappertit in a loud voice；
which he suddenly dropped into a whisper as he repeated； with
eyes fixed upon the locksmith； ‘he has been at neither。’
‘I am glad of it； with all my heart；’ said the locksmith in a
serious tone； ‘for if he had been； and it could be proved against
him； Martha； your Great Association would have been to him the
cart that draws men to the gallows and leaves them hanging in the
air。 It would； as sure as we’re alive！’
Mrs Varden was too much scared by Simon’s altered manner
and appearance； and by the accounts of the rioters which had
reached her ears that night； to offer any retort； or to have recourse
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to her usual matrimonial policy。 Miss Miggs wrung her hands； and
wept。
‘He was not at Duke Street； or at Warwick Street； G。 Varden；’
said Simon； sternly； ‘but he was at Westminster。 Perhaps； sir； he
kicked a county member； perhaps； sir； he tapped a lord—you may
stare； sir； I repeat it—blood flowed from noses； and perhaps he
tapped a lord。 Who knows？ This；’ he added； putting his hand into
his waistcoat…pocket； and taking out a large tooth； at the sight of
which both Miggs and Mrs Varden screamed； ‘this was a bishop’s。
Beware； G。 Varden！’
‘Now； I would rather；’ said the locksmith hastily； ‘have paid five
hundred pounds； than had this come to pass。 You idiot； do you
know what peril you stand in？’
‘I know it； sir；’ replied his journeyman； ‘and it is my glory。 I was
there； everybody saw me there。 I was conspicuous； and prominent。
I will abide the consequences。’
The locksmith； really disturbed and agitated； paced to and fro
in silence—glancing at his former ’prentice every now and then—
and at length stopping before him； said：
‘Get to bed； and sleep for a couple of hours that you may wake
penitent； and with some of your senses about you。 Be sorry for
what you have done； and we will try to save you。 If I call him by
five o’clock；’ said Varden； turning hurriedly to his wife； and he
washes himself clean and changes his dress； he may get to the
Tower Stairs； and away by the Gravesend tide…boat； before any
search is made for him。 From there he can easily get on to
Canterbury； where your cousin will give him work till this storm
has blown over。 I am not sure that I do right in screening him from
the punishment he deserves； but he has lived in this house； man
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and boy； for a dozen years； and I should be sorry if for this one
day’s work he made a miserable end。 Lock the front…door； Miggs；
and show no light towards the street when you go upstairs。 Quick；
Simon！ Get to bed！’
‘And do you suppose； sir；’ retorted Mr Tappertit； with a
thickness and slowness of speech which contrasted forcibly with
the rapidity and earnestness of his kind…hearted master—‘and do
you suppose； sir； that I am base and mean enough to accept your
servile proposition？—Miscreant！’
‘Whatever you please； Sim； but get to bed。 Every minute is of
consequence。 The light here； Miggs！’
‘Yes yes； oh do！ Go to bed directly；’ cried the two women
together。
Mr Tappertit stood upon his feet； and pushing his chair away to
show that he needed no assistance； answered； swaying himself to
and fro； and managing his head as if it had no connection
whatever with his body：
‘You spoke of Miggs； sir—Miggs may be smothered！’
‘Oh Simmun！’ ejaculated that young lady in a faint voice。 ‘Oh
mim！ Oh sir！ Oh goodness gracious； what a turn he has give me！’
‘This family may all be smothered； sir；’ returned Mr Tappertit；
after glancing at her with a smile