`She'll be here directly minnit,' returned Mrs. Gamp. `Come with Sairey, Mr. Chuffey. Come with your own Sairey!'

The good woman had no reference to any female in the world in promising this speedy advent of the person for whom Mr. Chuffey inquired, but merely threw it out as a means of pacifying the old man. It had its effect, for he permitted her to lead him away; and they quitted the room together.

Jonas looked out of the window again. They were still reading the printed paper in the shop opposite, and a third man had joined in the perusal. What could it be, to interest them so?'

A dispute or discussion seemed to arise among them, for they all looked up from their reading together, and one of the three, who had been glancing over the shoulder of another, stepped back to explain or illustrate some action by his gestures.

Horror! How like the blow he had struck in the wood!

It beat him from the window as if it had lighted on himself. As he staggered into a chair he thought of the change in Mrs. Gamp exhibited in her new-born tenderness to her charge. Was that because it was found?--because she knew of it?--because she suspected him?

`Mr. Chuffey is a-lyin' down,' said Mrs. Gamp, returning, `and much good may it do him, Mr. Chuzzlewit, which harm it can't and good it may, be joyful!'

`Sit down,' said Jonas, hoarsely, `and let us get this business done. Where is the other woman?'

`The other person's with him now,' she answered.

`That's right,' said Jonas. `He is not fit to be left to himself. Why, he fastened on me to-night; here, upon my coat; like a savage dog. Old as he is, and feeble as he is usually, I had some trouble to shake him off. You--Hush!--It's nothing. You told me the other woman's name. I forget it.'

`I mentioned Betsey Prig,' said Mrs. Gamp.

`She is to be trusted, is she?'

`That she ain't!' said Mrs. Gamp; `nor have I brought her, Mr. Chuzzlewit. I've brought another, which engages to give every satigefaction.'

`What is her name?' asked Jonas.

Mrs. Gamp looked at him in an odd way without returning any answer, but appeared to understand the question too.

`What is her name?' repeated Jonas.

`Her name,' said Mrs. G-amp, `is Harris.'

It was extraordinary how much effort it cost Mrs. Gamp to pronounce the name she was commonly so ready with. She made some three or four gasps before she could get it out; and, when she had uttered it, pressed her hand upon her side, and turned up her eyes, as if she were going to faint away. But, knowing her to labour under a complication of internal disorders, which rendered a few drops of spirits indispensable at certain times to her existence, and which came on very strong when that remedy was not at hand, Jonas merely supposed her to be the victim of one of these attacks.

`Well!' he said, hastily, for he felt how incapable he was of confining his wandering attention to the subject. `You and she have arranged to take care of him, have you?'