A Little World. George Manville Fenn
if you wouldn’t mind—”
Here he made a telegraphic signal with one arm to his wife, and in one sweep indicated “Clear away and lay the cloth.” The signal having the effect upon Mrs. Purkis of making her dab down an iron and raise the saucepan lid.
“We’re very homely, Mr. Pellet, sir,” she said, as she diffused a savoury odour through the little room; “but if you wouldn’t mind?”
Jared did not wish to stay, but Mrs. Jared did, and she had her way, when, over a snug little supper, the pew-opening business was discussed in all its bearings, though frequently during his stay Jared was ready to get up and leave the place in consequence of the beadle’s allusions to his kindness.
It was very plain, though, that Purkis and his wife looked up to their visitors as people far above the ordinary run; and after their departure, Mr. Purkis dabbed himself for five minutes, and then, bringing his hand down upon his counter with a loud spang, he exclaimed, like a monarch bestowing dignities—
“She shall have it, that she shall.”
“But, Joseph,” exclaimed his wife, deprecatingly, “whatever you do, don’t commit yourself.”
“Don’t talk stuff,” exclaimed Purkis, fiercely.
“But it wouldn’t be stuff, Joseph, if you was to commit yourself,” whimpered Mrs. Purkis.
“Mrs. Purkis, ma’am,” said the beadle, donning imaginary robes, “Mr. Pellet has asked for the post for a humble friend of his. Mr. Pellet’s humble friend shall have it, ma’am, or I’ll know the reason why. Mr. Pellet, ma’am, is our friend; and what’s more, or what isn’t more—I won’t say as to that—Mr. Pellet, ma’am, is an ornament to my church, for he’s the finest organist in London.”
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