Our Mutual Friend

onscience, and likewise so impaired the firmness of the cherubic legs, that the culprit's tottering condition of mind and body might have rou

riage, they had happily none to bestow on the guilty conspirator; to which fortun

lfer from her stately corner, '

grant assumption of unconsciousness, 'I did omit it

ilfer proclaimed,

something to the abortive ef

a stern sonorous voice. 'In a word

ter Bella

ng lady: of whom she now made reproachful mention as an article of luxury which her husband had set up entirely on h

acious,

waving her hand. 'I think your father will admit it to be documentary proof of what I tell him. I believe your father

Ma won't be angry, but is happily married to Mr John Rokesmith, and didn't mention it beforehand to avoid words, and please tell da

r, and faintly ex

ragement he said it again, though scarcely with the success he had expected; for

sconcerting silence, 'that we must make the best of it? Would you object to my pointing out, my dear,

s. 'Truly so? I was not aware that Mr John Rokesmith was a ge

it, my dear,' the cherub

my face, surely my husband may. The one thing is not more unnatural than the other. There seems a fi

ed into the conflict, dragging the r

if you would keep to the point, and not hold forth about people's flying in

Mrs Wilfer, knitt

returned Lavvy, 'and George Samps

ched George: who, divided between the support due from him to his love, and th

arried in this very low and disreputable manner-with some pew-opener or other, I suppose, for a bridesmaid-when she ought to have confided in me, and ought to have said, "If, Lavvy, you consider it

ave done? Ingrate!' excla

my life you mustn't. No really, you know. When a man with the feelings of a gentleman finds himself engaged to a young lady, and it comes (even on the pa

of his obliging interference was of such a nature that Miss Lavini

lady, 'wants to annihilate George! But you s

his head at Mrs Wilfer, and to remark: 'With every sentiment of re

my love to your aunt, George dear, and implore her not to curse the viper that has crossed your path and blighted your existence. Oh, oh, oh!' The young lady who, hysterically speaking, was only just come of age, and had never gone off yet, here fell into a highly creditabl

?' and further, 'George love, what has happened? Where is Ma?' Mr Sampson, with words of comfort, raised her prostrate form, and handed her to Mrs Wilfer as if the young lady were something in the nature of refreshments. Mrs Wilfer with dignity partaking of the refreshments, by kissing her once on the brow (as if accepting an oyster), Miss Lavvy, tottering, retur

r, and Mr George Sampson, from which R. W. was altogether excluded, as an outsider and non-sympathizer. Miss Lavinia assumed a modest air of having distinguished herself; Mrs Wilfer, a

what has passed, I am sure Ma will tell Pa that he may te

tly he respected Mrs Wilfer, and ever must, and ever would.

I may feel-nay, know-that after having so far overcome my repugnance towards Mr and Mrs Boffin as to receive them under this roof, and to consent to your daughter Bella's,' here turning to her husband, 'residing under theirs, it were well if your daughter Bella,' again turning to her husband, 'had profited in a worldly point of view by a connection so distast

ore so, than in and through what had passed. He must take the liberty of adding, that what was true of the mother was true of the youngest daughter, and that he could never forget the touching feelings that the conduct of both

gain, 'let your daughter Bella come when she will, and she will be received. So,' af

tell Bella what I have undergone. It can do no g

rged Mr Sampson, 'sh

of resolute self-denial. 'No, dearest

nsidered that

like reminding her of her having cast herself away. And I hope, Pa, that you will think it equally right to avoid mentioning George's rising prospects, when Bella is present. It mig

r of Angels. Miss Lavvy replied with solemnity, 'No, deare

e worthy of so hysterical a daughter? I do not ask you if you are worthy of such a wife-put Me out of the question-but are you sufficiently conscious of, and thankful for, the pervading moral grandeur of the family spectacle on which you are gazing? These inquiries proved very harassing to R. W. wh

ughter Bella, and sleep?'

answered, 'Yes, I t

ignation, 'I would recommend you, if you

it is the best place for me.' And with thes

ngagement made through her father. And the way in which the Mendicant's bride dashed at the unassailable position so co

darling, how do you do, and how's George Sampson, and how is he getting on, and when are you going to be married, and how rich are you going to

helpless. Apparently with no compunction, and assuredly with no ce

ear, did you kiss Ma and Lavvy? Oh, you did! Quite correct, John dear; but I didn't see you do it, so I asked. Cut some bread and butter, John; that's a love. Ma likes it doubled. And

es, the Mendicant's bride in her merr

idn't know how much of Good, Good, Good, I had learnt from John. Well! So I was sly about it, and ashamed of what you supposed me to be, and fearful that we couldn't understand one another and might come to words, which we should all be sorry for afterwards, and so I said to John that if he liked to take me without any fuss, he might. And as he did like, I let

ack to her chair (after a loop on the road to sque

lightfully furnished, and we have a clever little servant who is de-cidedly pretty, and we are economical and orderly, and do everything by clockwork, and we have a hundred and fifty pounds

smiling, as he stood by her side, without her having detected his approach, 'my opini

not yet a while! I want to be something so muc

ing, are

ome day find me! Try me through some reverse, John-try me thro

e,' said John.

And you won't speak

very expressive look of admiratio

t the rest of them sideways out of her bright eyes: 'I'll go further, Pa and

destal for his beguilement. Miss Lavinia, on the other hand, had strong doubts of the policy of the course of treatment, and whether it might not spoil Mr Sampson, if experimented on in the case of that young gentleman. R.

ace from London, for Greenwich. At first they were very cheerful and talked much; but afte

, what's t

r, my

lla, looking up into his fac

my soul. I was thinking whether

repeated Bella,

ay, as rich as Mr Boffi

s he much the better for his wealth? Was I much

e not the worse fo

musingly suggested

you were rich, for instance, you would ha

xercise the power, for instance? And again, sir, for instance; shou

etorted: 'But still, again for inst

her head. 'I hope not. I think not. But it's so e

tead of that phrase-being poor?' h

am not poor. Dear John, it's not possibl

, my

Jo

h a dress as you are wearing now, you first charmed me, and in no dress could you ever look, to my thinking, more graceful or mo

these tears of grateful pleasure into my eyes, to hear

e pretty feet so dearly, that I feel as if I could not bear the dirt to soil th

ow that you admire them so much, John dear, and since you do, I am sorry that t

one if you could

to me as the wishes in the Fairy story, that were all fulfilled as soon as spoken. Wish me everything that you

. Bella was fast developing a perfect genius for home. All the loves and graces seemed (her hu

But, John gone to business and Bella returned home, the dress would be laid aside, trim little wrappers and aprons would be substituted, and Bella, putting back her hair with both hands, as if she were making the most business-like arrangements for going dramatically distracted, would enter on the household affairs of the day. Such weighing and mixing and chopping and grating, such dusting and washing and polishing, such snipping and weeding and trowelling and other small gardening, such making and mending and folding and airing, such diverse arrangements, and above all such severe study! For Mrs J. R., who had never been wont to do too much at home as Miss B. W., was under the constant necessity of referring for advice and support to a sage volume e

command a private to catch a Tartar. Or, she would casually issue the order, 'Throw in a handful-' of something entirely unattainable. In these, the Housewife's most glaring mom

she would have set herself with equal zeal to master Algebra, or Euclid, if he had divided his soul between her and either. Wonderful was the way in which she would store up the City Intelligence, and beamingly shed it upon John in the course of the evening; incidental

us and sweet commodity that was always looking up, and that never was worth less than all the gold in the world. And she, being inspired by her affection, and having a quick wit and a fine ready instinct, made amazing progress in her dom

rit!' he said, fondly. 'You are l

truly,

indeed. Only much m

him by a button of his coat, 'that I sometime

ohn to do it, when she

think, John, I feel

much alone,

s so short that I have not a

my life, then?

on his shoulder. 'You wouldn't believe, sir, that I feel serious now?

be rich, pet?' he a

can you ask such

ret anythin

then, suddenly changing, she said, between laughing and

imes see her again-as that we may sometimes see her again.' Bella might be very anxious on the subject, but she scarcely seemed so

nt of his domestic joys-was far happier there, than anywhere. It was always pleasantly droll to see Pa and

unexpectedly, as soon as you could get out of school.

him down in his chair, 'I attend two schools. There's the Mincing Lane esta

' said

ut of me to-day, my dear, but that was to be expected. There

lf when you have got your learn

e cherub, after a little con

ted Bella, 'to talk about disma

am not out of spirits. I am as gay a

t must be I,' said Bella; 'so I won't do so any more. John

we must,

la, looking at her father's hand and lightly slapping i

was going to ask to be allowed to wash

f his coat, 'come here and be washed directly. You are n

s and rubbed his hands, and splashed him and rinsed him and towelled him, until he was as red as beet-root, even to his very ears: 'Now you must be brushed a

ng it, winding it over her fingers, sticking it up on end, and constantly falling back on John to get a good look at the effec

final touches. 'Now, you are something like a genteel

wered well enough for that radiant though self-sufficient boy, Jack Horner-Bella with her own hands laid a cloth for him, and brought him his su

been to make a plaything of her good father, ever delighted that she should put him to that account, still there was an occasional something on Bella's part that was new. It could not be said that she was less playful, whimsical, or natura

ss of grog, she sat down on a stool between her father and her husband, leaning her arm upon the latter, and was very quiet.

ttle way wit

y dear.

thought I would like to tell her how right she was when she pretended to read in the live coals that I would go t

are t

umour to write to Lizzie. Good night, dear

r,' said Bella; 'I am going to give you your first curtain lecture. It shall be a parlour-curtain lecture. You shall take this chair of mine when I have folded my lett

ctions performed with an air of severe business sedateness, which the Complete British Housewife might have assumed, and certainly would not h

at the beginning.

from her, could not have astounded him. But he kept his count

Who gave yo

ave betrayed him to her, he answered, interrogati

echism fairly, so far, I'll let you off the rest. Now, I am going to examine you out of my own head. John

looked up at him, with her hands folded on his k

y, he could do no be

is the topic of my lecture: I want nothin

lecture may be consi

a dreadful Secondly, and a dreadful Thirdly to come-as I used to say t

come, my

you absolutely certain in yo

in my keeping,

bottom of that heart of hearts, which you have given to me as I have gi

ou quite as well as I do; could I have in the Calendar of my life the brightest of its days; could I whenever I look at your d

her. Wait a moment, and I'll go on with the lecture. Give me a moment, bec

g there, laughed a little when she said, '

irdly,' said John,

sued Bella, 'that you

er husband gaily, 'what

an exercise. But I can't get on with less believing. I'll try again. I believe, dear John, that y

rictly tr

o stint ourselves a little in purchases that we can afford to make now-wo

e same confid

'that you would be quite as contented yourself John? But, yes, I know I may. For, knowing that I should be so, how surely I

w I am brought to a little piece of news, my dearest, that I might have told you earlier in the evening. I have stron

had returned to the investigation of the coat-button that had engaged he

last,' cried her husband, rallying her, 'a

ting the button and shaking

ittle wife of mine, there's

d with the button, 'but it was quite another sort of seriousness-a m

hers to meet it, and laid her little r

rried, Pa's speaking of the ships that might

ly, my d

ship upon the ocean...bringing...to