'How do you do, reverend sir?' said Mr. Grewgious, with abundant
offers of hospitality, which were as cordially declined as made.
'And how is your charge getting on over the way in the set that I
had the pleasure of recommending to you as vacant and eligible?'
Mr. Crisparkle replied suitably.
'I am glad you approve of them,' said Mr. Grewgious, 'because I
entertain a sort of fancy for having him under my eye.'
As Mr. Grewgious had to turn his eye up considerably before he
could see the chambers, the phrase was to be taken figuratively and
not literally.
'And how did you leave Mr. Jasper, reverend sir?' said Mr.
Grewgious.
Mr. Crisparkle had left him pretty well.
'And where did you leave Mr. Jasper, reverend sir?' Mr. Crisparkle
had left him at Cloisterham.
'And when did you leave Mr. Jasper, reverend sir?' That morning.
'Umps!' said Mr. Grewgious. 'He didn't say he was coming,
perhaps?'
'Coming where?'
'Anywhere, for instance?' said Mr. Grewgious.
'No.'
'Because here he is,' said Mr. Grewgious, who had asked all these
questions, with his preoccupied glance directed out at window.
'And he don't look agreeable, does he?'
Mr. Crisparkle was craning towards the window, when Mr. Grewgious
added:
'If you will kindly step round here behind me, in the gloom of the
room, and will cast your eye at the second-floor landing window in
yonder house, I think you will hardly fail to see a slinking
individual in whom I recognise our local friend.
Pages:
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266