`The night-nurse,' she observed, `from Kingsgate Street, well beknown to Mrs. Prig the day-nurse, and the best of creeturs. How is the poor dear gentleman to-night? If he an't no better yet, still that is what must be expected and prepared for. It an't the fust time by a many score, ma'am,' dropping a curtsey to the landlady, `that Mrs. Prig and me has nussed together, turn and turn about one off, one on. We knows each other's ways, and often gives relief when others falled. our charges is but low, sir:' Mrs. Gamp addressed herself to John on this head: `considerin' the nater of our painful dooty; If they was made accordin' to our wishes, they would be easy paid.'
Regarding herself as having now delivered her inauguration address, Mrs. Gamp curtseyed all round, and signified her wish to be conducted to the scene of her official duties. The chambermaid led her, through a variety of intricate passages, to the top of the house; and pointing at length to a solitary door at the end of a gallery informed her that yonder was the chamber where the patient lay. That done, she hurried off with all the speed she could make.
Mrs. Gamp traversed the gallery in a great heat from having carried her large bundle up so many stairs, and tapped at the door which was immediately opened by Mrs. Prig, bonneted and shawled and all impatience to be gone. Mrs. Prig was of the Gamp build, but not so fat; and her voice was deeper and more like a man's. She had also a beard.
`I began to think you warn't a-coming!' Mrs. Prig observed, in some displeasure.
`It shall be made good to-morrow night,' said Mrs. Gamp `honorable. I had to go and fetch my things.' She had begun to make signs of inquiry in reference to the position of the patient and his over-hearing them -- for there was a screen before the door -- when Mrs. Prig settled that point easily.
`Oh!' she said aloud, `he's quiet, but his wits is gone. It an't no matter wot you say.'
`Anythin' to tell afore you goes, my dear?' asked Mrs. Gamp, setting her bundle down inside the door, and looking affectionately at her partner.
`The pickled salmon,' Mrs. Prig replied, `is quite delicious. I can partlck'ler recommend it. Don't have nothink to say to the cold meat, for it tastes of the stable. The drinks is all good.'
Mrs. Gamp expressed herself much gratified.
`The physic and them things is on the drawers and mankleshelf,' said Mrs. Prig, cursorily. `He took his last slime draught at seven. The easy-chair an't soft enough. You'll want his piller.'
Mrs. Gamp thanked her for these hints, and giving her a friendly good night, held the door open until she had disappeared at the other end of the gallery. Having thus performed the hospitable duty of seeing her safely off, she shut it, locked it on the inside, took up her bundle, walked round the screen, and entered on her occupation of the sick chamber.
`A little dull, but not so bad as might be,' Mrs. Gamp remarked. `I'm glad to see a parapidge, in case of fire, and lots of roofs and chimley-pots to walk upon.'
It will be seen from these remarks that Mrs. Gamp was looking out of window. When she had exhausted the prospect, she tried the easychair, which she indignantly declared was `harder than a brickbadge.' Next she pursued her researches among the physicbottles, glasses, jugs, and tea-cups; and when she had entirely satisfied her curiosity on all these subjects of investigation, she untied her bonnet-strings and strolled up to the bedside to take a look at the patient.
A young man -- dark and not ill-looking -- with long black hair, that seemed the blacker for the whiteness of the bed-clothes. His eyes were partly open, and he never ceased to roll his head from side to side upon the pillow, keeping his body almost quiet. He did not utter words. but every now and then gave