Part 12 (1/2)
”Well, I never,” said Mrs Carey. ”No; I never heard a thing like that!”
”What, not when you cut up the jacka.s.s and sold it for veal cutlets, mother.”
”Hold your tongue, Mr Imperence,” said the widow. ”It's very well known you're no Christian, and who'll believe what you say?”
”It's very well known that I'm a man what pays his way,” said the boy, ”and don't keep a huckster's stall to sell carrion by star-light; but live in a two pair, if you please, and has a wife and family, or as good.”
”O! you aggravating imp!” exclaimed the widow in despair, unable to wreak her vengeance on one who kept in a secure position, and whose movements were as nimble as his words.
”Why, Madam Carey, what has Dandy Mick done to thee?” said a good-humoured voice, it came from one of two factory girls who were pa.s.sing her stall and stopped. They were gaily dressed, a light handkerchief tied under the chin, their hair scrupulously arranged; they wore coral neck-laces and earrings of gold.
”Ah! is it you, my child,” said the widow, who was a good-hearted creature. ”The dandy has been giving me some of his imperence.”
”But I meant nothing, dame,” said Mick. ”It was a joke,--only a joke.”
”Well, let it pa.s.s,” said Mrs Carey. ”And where have you been this long time, my child; and who's your friend?” she added in a lower tone.
”Well, I have left Mr Trafford's mill,” said the girl.
”That's a bad job,” said Mrs Carey; ”for those Traffords are kind to their people. It's a great thing for a young person to be in their mill.”
”So it is,” said the girl, ”but then it was so dull. I can't stand a country life, Mrs Carey. I must have company.”
”Well, I do love a bit of gossip myself,” said Mrs Carey, with great frankness.
”And then I'm no scholar,” said the girl, ”and never could take to learning. And those Traffords had so many schools.”
”Learning is better than house and land,” said Mrs Carey; ”though I'm no scholar myself; but then, in my time, things was different. But young persons--”
”Yes,” said Mick; ”I don't think I could get through the day, if it wurno' for our Inst.i.tute.”
”And what's that?” asked Mrs Carey with a sneer.
”The Shoddy-Court Literary and Scientific, to be sure,” said Mick; ”we have got fifty members, and take in three London papers; one 'Northern Star' and two 'Moral Worlds.'”
”And where are you now, child?” continued the widow to the girl.
”I am at Wiggins and Webster's,” said the girl; ”and this is my partner.
We keep house together; we have a very nice room in Arbour Court, No.
7, high up; it's very airy. If you will take a dish of tea with us to-morrow, we expect some friends.”
”I take it kindly,” said Mrs Carey; ”and so you keep house together! All the children keep house in these days. Times is changed indeed!”
”And we shall be happy to see you, Mick; and Julia, if you are not engaged;” continued the girl; and she looked at her friend, a pretty demure girl, who immediately said, but in a somewhat faultering tone, ”Oh! that we shall.”
”And what are you going to do now, Caroline?” said Mick.
”Well, we had no thoughts; but I said to Harriet, as it is a fine night, let us walk about as long as we can and then to-morrow we will lie in bed till afternoon.”