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Thinking begets thinking ; and, as there
were no sounds of Mrs. Corney’s approach,
it occurred to Mr. Bumble that it would
be an innocent and virtuous way of spend¬
ing the time, if he were further to allay
his curiosity by a cursory glance at the
interior of Mrs. Corney’s chest of draw¬
ers.
Having listened at the key-hole to as¬
sure himself that nobody was approaching
the chamber, Mr. Bumble, beginning at
the bottom, proceeded to make himself
acquainted with the contents of the three
long drawers; which, being filled with
various garments of good fashion and tex¬
ture, carefully preserved between two
layers of old wer sa e sprinkled with
dried lavender, seemed to yield him ex¬
ceeding satisfaction. Arriving in course
of time at the yo acct © corner drawer
(in which was the key), and beholding
therein a small padlocked box, which,
being shaken, gave forth a pleasant sound
as of the chinking of coin, Mr. Bumble
returned with a stately walk to the fire¬
place, and, resuming his old attitude, said,
with a grave and determined air, “I'll
do it!” He followed up this remarkable
declaration by shaking his head im a wag¬
ish manner for ten minutes, as though
he were remonstrating with himself for
being such a pleasant dog; and then took
a view of his legs in profile with much
seeming pleasure and interest.
He was still placidly engaged in this
latter survey when Mrs. Corney, hurry¬
ing into the room, threw herself in a
breathless state on a chair by the fire-side,
and covering her eyes with one hand,
placed the other over her heart, and
gasped for breath.
* Mrs. Corney,” said Mr. Bumble, stoop¬
ing over the matron, “ what is this, ma’am ?
has anything happened ma’am? Pray an¬
swer me; I’m on—on—” Mr. Bumble in
his alarm could not immediately think of
the word “tenterhooks,” so he said
“ broken bottles.”
“Oh, Mr. Bumble!” cried the lady, “I
have been so dreadfully put out!”
“Put out, ma’am!” exclaimed Mr.
Bumble; “ who has dared to—? I know !?
said Mr. Bumble, checking himself with
native majesty, “this is them wicious
paupers !”
“It’s dreadful to think of!” said the
lady, shuddering.
“Then don’t think of it, ma’am,” re¬
joined Mr. Bumble.
“I can’t help it,” whimpered the lady.
“Then take something, ma’am,” said
Mr. Bumble soothingly. “A little of the
wine?”
6 Not for the world!” replied Mrs. Cor
ney. “I couldn’t—oh! The top shelf in
the right-hand corner—oh!” Uttering
these words, the good lady pointed dis¬
tractedly to the cupboard, and underwent
a poset, dns from internal spasms. Mr,
Bumble rushed to the closet, and, snatch¬
ing a pint green-glass bottle from the
shelf thus incoherently indicated, filled a
tea-cup with its contents, and held it to
the lady’s lips.
“I’m better now,” said Mrs. Corney,
falling back after drinking half of it.
Mr. Bumble raised his eyes piously to
the ceiling in thankfulness, and, bringing
them down again to the brim of the cup,
lifted it to his nose.
“ Peppermint,” explained Mrs. Corney
in a faint voice, smiling gently on the
beadle as she spoke. " it; there’s
a little—a little something else in it.”
Mr. Bumble tasted the medicine witha
doubtful look; smacked his lips, took an¬
other taste, and put the cup down empty.
“It’s very comforting,” said Mrs. Cor¬
ney.
“Very much so indeed, ma’am” said
the beadle. As he spoke, he drew a chair
beside the matron, and tenderly inquired
what had happened to distress her.
s Nothing,” replied Mrs. Corney.
am a foolish, excitable, weak creetur.”
«Not weak, ma’am,” retorted Mr. Buin
ble, drawing his chair a little closer.
«“ Are you a weak creetur, Mrs. Corney ?”
6 We are all weak creeturs,” said Mrs.
Corney, laying down a general principle.
c So we are,” said the beadle.
Nothing was said on either side for a
minute or two afterwards; and by the ex¬
piration of that time Mr. Bumble had
illustrated the position by removing his
left arm from the back of Mrs. Corney’s
chair, where it had previously rested, to
Mrs. Corney’s apron-string, round which
it gradually became entwined.
6 We are all weak creeturs,” said Mr.
Bumble.
Mrs. Corney sighed. !
“Don’t sigh, Mrs. Corney,” said Mr.
Bumble.
“JT can’t help it,” said Mrs. Corney; and
she sighed again.
“This is a very comfortable room,
ma’am,” said Mr. Bumble, looking round.
“ Another room and this, ma’am, would
be a complete thing.”
“Tt would be too much for one,” mur.
mured the lady.
66 a