Our Mutual Friend

th so much urgency on the golden couple, that evasion of the honour and pleasure of their company would have been difficult, if d

th Mr Boffin. The two were formed to become intimate. So much simplicity combined with so much force of character, s

as he came with Mr Boffin from the window to the bre

eman, 'your too partial estimat

ed,' urged the lady, tende

n, then, of your husband-you don'

an I,

ecious, does less than justice to Mr

red, I plead guilty. But

'because it represents Mr Boffin as on my lower level; more than justice to me, Sophronia, because i

you could for y

at is not th

, Lawyer?' said M

h clemency, as being too good to persons who are unworthy of him and ungrateful to him. To those nobl

fre

Boffin and all such persons. Why? Because, in my lower nature I am more worldly and less delicate. Not being so magn

oursing at once affectingly and effectively, but discoursing alone. Assuming that the dear old creatures were impressed by what they heard, still one would like to be sure of it, the more so, as at least one of the dear old creatures was somewhat poin

comes unmindful of his own temporary misfortunes in his admiration of another whom he is burning to serve? And is not that mak

ing at the teapot. Mrs Lammle's innocent appeal was merely thrown into the air, to mingle with the steam of the urn. Glancing towar

asions, manoeuvred his capacious shirt front into the largest de

n will remind you of the old adage, t

Do you mean because we

le moment, that what you are pleased to compliment me upon feeling in the case of Mr B

ly whispered to Mrs Boffin. 'I am afraid I must adm

bserved that Mrs Boffin merely looked up from the teapot for a moment wi

, Sophronia?' inquired A

ust throw myself on the protection of the Court. Am I

, ma'am,' was his answer. 'It's

nner was grave, but not coarse, and derived some dignity from

or instruction from her husband. He re

self-laudation, my dear Mrs Boffin,' said the airy

't,' Mr Boffi

o him laughingly. '

t objects for two reasons. First, because the Court don't think it fair. Seco

propitiatory bearing there, and her defiant bearing at Mr Tw

e Court not c

lp; we'll make the best of it. 'It's not above-board and it's not fair. When the old lady is uncomfortable, there's sure to be g

er, pushed her plate away, looked at her h

asted, sir?' inq

all his teeth. 'If Mrs Boffin will ob

on the whole drank it with something of an air, though the coming and going dints got almost as large, the while,

ftly, taking out a pocket-book,

ir, waving his right hand towards her, while he hung his left hand by th

s possible; if I can say it without any, I shall be heartily glad. You two have done me a service, a very great service, in doing what you did (my old lady knows what it was), and I have put into this en

en she had conveyed it to her bosom, Mr Lammle had the appearance of feeling relieved, and breathing more freely, as not having been quite

ng Alfred, 'that you have had some general idea,

th a glittering smile and a grea

dy in your own mind, and to do her the honour of turning the question over whether you mightn't one of these

loud voice, 'that if I were anything to your wife, sir, I could hard

ll her, ma'am?'

ply, and sat defiantly bea

not impossible. Is it, sir?' as

d, smiling assent as be

n't wish to say a single word that might be after

and repeated in a bantering ma

. You positively must excuse us. If you'll go your way, we'll go our

edly dissatisfied party demanding exemp

nd as a matter of business it's brought to a conclusion. You have done me a great servi

table, but neither could say that there was. Mr Lam

ou on, or even at all to let you go on of your own selves, wouldn't be the right thing. So, I have openly given you to understand that-' Mr Boffin sought for a new turn of speech, but could find none so expressive as his former one, repeated in a confidential tone, '-that it won't

ose with a disdainful frown on hers. At this moment a hasty foot was heard on th

our house after all your kindness to me! Oh, Mr and Mrs Boffin, pray forgive me for this intrusion, but you don't know how fond I was of Sophronia when Pa wouldn't let me go there any more, or what I have felt fo

g look, first to Mrs Boffin, and then to Mr Boffin. Both understood her instantly, with a more delicate subtlety than m

Sackville Street, and heard that Sophronia was here, and then Ma came to see, oh such a dreadful old stony woman from the country in a turban in Portland Place, and I said I wouldn't go up with Ma b

dear,' said Mrs Boffin.

my poor Sophronia, my only friend. Oh! how I felt the separation, my dear Sophroni

an's eyes, as the soft-headed and soft-he

if he knew of Sackville Street, and what would Ma say if she was kept waiting on the doorsteps of that dreadful turban, and there never were such pawing horses as ours unsettling my mind every moment more and more

dear?' asked Mr Boff

I hardly ever spend it and it has mounted up to fifteen pounds, Sophronia, and I hope three five-pound notes are better than nothing

searching in the reticule, G

aunt Hawkinson was of a different opinion, because she left me this, though I used to think she might just as well have buried it, for it's always

, gently taking it. 'I'll see t

t'll come to me when I am of age, Mr Boffin, will be all my own, and neither Pa nor Ma nor anybody else will have any control over it, and what I wish to do it so make some of it over somehow to Sophronia and Alfred, by signing something

r Boffin, 'it sh

ng, or I could sign something in the Square if somebody would come and cough for me to let 'em in with the key, and would bring a pen and ink with

raced Mrs Lammle most affectionately, a

because you have been brought low in the world, will you? Oh me! oh me! I have been crying my eyes out of m

n, as if she had been ordered to expiate some childish misdemeanour by going to bed in the daylight, and were peeping over the counterpane in a miserable

showing the money and the necklace

ood sketching with it on the pattern of the damask cloth, as

Mr Boffin?' she said, turning her

aid Mr

iend,' Mrs Lammle explained, in a measured v

n want of kind and careful protection, but I shall say no more than th

upon it, 'there are not many people, I think, who, under the circumstances, would have be

having,' said Mrs Boffin,

hank yo

r husband, mockingly,

think well of another person, and it's a very good thing to be thought wel

ut I asked Mrs L

able-cloth, with her face cl

the jewels and the money, Mr Boffin. As our little Georgiana said, three five-pound note

r Boffin's comment, as

a look, half exasperated and half jeering, at his wife. She still stood sketching; but, as she sketched, there was a struggle within her, whi

man,' exclaimed Lamml

der his angry stare, looked out for a

re, Alfred, and you will have none in future. It is not worth you

e do; you k

hould soon be eased of it, if I did. But it will be all l

I been waiting for

sorry I have delayed o

lable. It might have been fanciful to suppose that under their outer bearing there was something of the shamed air of two cheats who were linked together by concealed handcuffs; but, not so, to suppose that they were haggardly weary o