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vintner or even a locksmith。 So； indeed； it turned out； for when he
had settled with the vintner—whose place of business was down in
some deep cellars hard by Thames Street； and who was as purple…
faced an old gentleman as if he had all his life supported their
arched roof on his head—when he had settled the account； and
taken the receipt； and declined tasting more than three glasses of
old sherry； to the unbounded astonishment of the purple…faced
vintner； who； gimlet in hand； had projected an attack upon at least
a score of dusty casks； and who stood transfixed； or morally
gimleted as it were； to his own wall—when he had done all this；
and disposed besides of a frugal dinner at the Black Lion in
Whitechapel； spurning the Monument and John’s advice； he
turned his steps towards the locksmith’s house； attracted by the
eyes of blooming Dolly Varden。
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Joe was by no means a sheepish fellow； but； for all that； when
he got to the corner of the street in which the locksmith lived； he
could by no means make up his mind to walk straight to the house。
First； he resolved to stroll up another street for five minutes； then
up another street for five minutes more； and so on until he had lost
full half an hour； when he made a bold plunge and found himself
with a red face and a beating heart in the smoky workshop。
‘Joe Willet； or his ghost？’ said Varden； rising from the desk at
which he was busy with his books； and looking at him under his
spectacles。 ‘Which is it？ Joe in the flesh； eh？ That’s hearty。 And
how are all the Chigwell company； Joe？’
‘Much as usual； sir—they and I agree as well as ever。’
‘Well； well！’ said the locksmith。 ‘We must be patient； Joe； and
bear with old folks’ foibles。 How’s the mare； Joe？ Does she do the
four miles an hour as easily as ever？ Ha； ha； ha！ Does she； Joe？
Eh！—What have we there； Joe—a nosegay！’
‘A very poor one； sir—I thought Miss Dolly—’
‘No； no；’ said Gabriel； dropping his voice； and shaking his head；
‘not Dolly。 Give ’em to her mother； Joe。 A great deal better give
’em to her mother。 Would you mind giving ’em to Mrs Varden；
Joe？’
‘Oh no； sir；’ Joe replied； and endeavouring； but not with the
greatest possible success； to hide his disappointment。 ‘I shall be
very glad； I’m sure。’
‘That’s right；’ said the locksmith； patting him on the back。 ‘It
don’t matter who has ’em； Joe？’
‘Not a bit； sir。’—Dear heart； how the words stuck in his throat！
‘Come in；’ said Gabriel。 ‘I have just been called to tea。 She’s in
the parlour。’
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‘She；’ thought Joe。 ‘Which of ’em I wonder—Mrs or Miss？’ The
locksmith settled the doubt as neatly as if it had been expressed
aloud； by leading him to the door； and saying； ‘Martha； my dear；
here’s young Mr Willet。’
Now； Mrs Varden； regarding the Maypole as a sort of human
mantrap； or decoy for husbands； viewing its proprietor； and all
who aided and abetted him； in the light of so many poachers
among Christian men； and believing； moreover； that the publicans
coupled with sinners in Holy Writ were veritable licensed
victuallers； was far from being favourably disposed towards her
visitor。 Wherefore she was taken faint directly； and being duly
presented with the crocuses and snowdrops； divined on further
consideration that they were the occasion of the languor which
had seized upon her spirits。 ‘I’m afraid I couldn’t bear the room
another minute；’ said the good lady； ‘if they remained here。 Would
you excuse my putting them out of window？’
Joe begged she wouldn’t mention it on any account； and smiled
feebly as he saw them deposited on the sill outside。 If anybody
could have known the pains he had taken to make up that
despised and misused bunch of flowers！—
‘I feel it quite a relief to get rid of them； I assure you；’ said Mrs
Varden。 ‘I’m better already。’ And indeed she did appear to have
plucked up her spirits。
Joe expressed his gratitude to Providence for this favourable
dispensation； and tried to look as if he didn’t wonder where Dolly
was。
‘You’re sad people at Chigwell； Mr Joseph；’ said Mrs V。
‘I hope not； ma’am；’ returned Joe。
‘You’re the cruellest and most inconsiderate people in the
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world；’ said Mrs Varden； bridling。 ‘I wonder old Mr Willet； having
been a married man himself； doesn’t know better than to conduct
himself as he does。 His doing it for profit is no excuse。 I would
rather pay the money twenty times over； and have Varden come
home like a respectable and sober tradesman。 If there is one
character；’ said Mrs Varden with great emphasis； ‘that offends and
disgusts me more than another； it is a sot。’
‘Come； Martha； my dear；’ said the locksmith cheerily； ‘let us
have tea； and don’t let us talk about sots。 There are none here； and
Joe don’t want to hear about them； I dare say。’
At this crisis； Miggs appeared with toast。
‘I dare say he does not；’ said Mrs Varden； ‘and I dare say you do
not； Varden。 It’s a very unpleasant subject； I have no doubt；
though I won’t say it’s personal’—Miggs coughed—‘whatever I
may be forced to think’—Miggs sneezed expressively。 ‘You never
will know； Varden； and nobody at young Mr Willet’s age—you’ll
excuse me； sir—can be expected to know； what a woman suffers
when she is waiting at home under such circumstances。 If you
don’t believe me； as I know you don’t； here’s Miggs； who is only
too often a witness of it—ask her。’
‘Oh！ she were very bad the other night； sir； indeed she were；
said Miggs。 ‘If you hadn’t the sweetness of an angel in you； mim； I
don’t think you could abear it； I raly don’t。’
‘Miggs；’ said Mrs Varden； ‘you’re profane。’
‘Begging your pardon； mim；’ returned Miggs； with shrill
rapidity； ‘such was not my intentions； and such I hope is not my
character； though I am but a servant。’
‘Answering me； Miggs； and providing yourself；’ retorted her
mistress； looking round with dignity； ‘is one and the same thing。
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How dare you speak of angels in connection with your sinful
fellow…beings—mere’—said Mrs Varden； glancing at herself in a
neighbouring mirror； and arranging the ribbon of her cap in a
more becoming fashion—‘mere worms and grovellers as we are！’
‘I did not intend； mim； if you please； to give offence；’ said Miggs；
confident in the strength of her compliment； and developing
strongly in the throat as usual； ‘and I did not expect it would be
took as such。 I hope I know my own unworthiness； and that I hate
and despise myself and all my fellow…creatures as every
practicable Christian should。’
‘You’ll have the goodness； if you please；’ said Mrs Varden；
loftily； ‘to step upstairs and see if Dolly has finished dressing； and
to tell her that the chair that was ordered for her will be here in a
minute； and that if she keeps it waiting； I shall send it