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Why I wish I may only have a walking funeral, and never be buried decent with a mourning-coach and feathers, if the boy hasnt been and made a key for his own self! cried Miggs. Oh the little villain! This conclusion was not arrived at without consideration, and much peeping and peering about; nor was it unassisted by the recollection that she had on several occasions come upon the prentice suddenly, and found him busy at some mysterious occupation. Lest the fact of Miss Miggs calling him, on whom she stooped to cast a favourable eye, a boy, should create surprise in any breast, it may be observed that she invariably affected to regard all male bipeds under thirty as mere chits and infants; which phenomenon is not unusual in ladies of Miss Miggss temper, and is indeed generally found to be the associate of such indomitable and savage virtue. Miss Miggs deliberated within herself for some little time, looking hard at the shop-door while she did so, as though her eyes and thoughts were both upon it; and then, taking a sheet of paper from a drawer, twisted it into a long thin spiral tube. Having filled this instrument with a quantity of small coal-dust from the forge, she approached the door, and dropping on one knee before it, dexterously blew into the keyhole as much of these fine ashes as the lock would hold. When she had filled it to the brim in a very workmanlike and skilful manner, she crept upstairs again, and chuckled as she went. There! cried Miggs, rubbing her hands, now lets see whether you wont be glad to take some notice of me, mister. He, he, he! Youll have eyes for somebody besides Miss Dolly now, I think. A fat-faced puss she is, as ever I come across! As she uttered this criticism, she glanced approvingly at her small mirror, as who should say, I thank my stars that cant be said of me!as it certainly could not; for Miss Miggss style of beauty was of that kind which Mr Tappertit himself had not inaptly termed, in private, scraggy. I dont go to bed this night! said Miggs, wrapping herself in a shawl, and drawing a couple of chairs near the window, flouncing down upon one, and putting her feet upon the other, till you come home, my lad. I wouldnt, said Miggs viciously, no, not for five-and-forty pound! With that, and with an expression of face in which a great number of opposite ingredients, such as mischief, cunning, malice, triumph, and patient expectation, were all mixed up together in a kind of physiognomical punch, Miss Miggs composed herself to wait and listen, like some fair ogress who had set a trap and was watching for a nibble from a plump young traveller. She sat there, with perfect composure, all night. At length, just upon break of day, there was a footstep in the street, and presently she could hear Mr Tappertit stop at the door. Then she could make out that he tried his keythat he was blowing into it that he knocked it on the nearest post to beat the dust outthat he took it under a lamp to look at itthat he poked bits of stick into the lock to clear itthat he peeped into the keyhole, first with one eye, and then with the otherthat he tried the key again that he couldnt turn it, and what was worse, couldnt get it out that he bent itthat then it was much less disposed to come out than beforethat he gave it a mighty twist and a great pull, and then it came out so suddenly that he staggered backwardsthat he kicked the doorthat he shook itfinally, that he smote his forehead, and sat down on the step in despair. When this crisis had arrived, Miss Miggs, affecting to be exhausted with terror, and to cling to the window- sill for support, put out her nightcap, and demanded in a faint voice who was there. Mr Tappertit cried Hush! and, backing to the road, exhorted her in frenzied pantomime to secrecy and silence. Tell me one thing, said Miggs. Is it thieves? Nonono! cried Mr Tappertit. |
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