Time glided on.
"You've come again, then?" said Keziah Bay.
"Yes, I've come again," said Mr Peter Pash. "Trade's very brisk,
Keziah."
"Is it?" said that lady, in the most indifferent of tones.
"Yes, things are looking up well," said Mr Pash, "and my lodger has
dropped dips and taken to composites. You know what that means, of
course."
"Not I," said Keziah indifferently. "I don't trouble my head about such
things."
"You're always a-snubbing me, Keziah," said the little man dolefully.
"It's no good for me to try and please you."
"Not a bit," said Keziah with a smile. "You ought to know better than
to come wherrittin' me when there's so much trouble in the house."
"But it ain't our trouble," said Peter Pash. "Why, if I was to make
myself unhappy about other folks' candles, where should I be? Now, I
say, Keziah dear, when's it to be?"
"Once for all, I tell you," said Keziah, "that until I see poor Miss May
happily settled, I won't bother about that nonsense; so you may hold
your tongue, for I can see what you mean."
Peter Pash gave a great groan of despair, but the next minute he was
patiently submitting to a severe cross-examination concerning the habits
and customs of his lodger Frank Marr.
"He's no good, Peter," said Keziah at last, "and the sooner you get rid
of him the better."
"But he pays his rent very regular," said Peter, "and that's a
consideration, you know. And he's a good son, and pays no end of
attention to his mother. And I say, Keziah, dear, I've seen Mr Brough,
and I ain't a bit jealous now."
Keziah snorted.
"He's been to my place twice to see Mr Marr, and they're the best of
friends, and he tells me it was only his fun, and Mr Marr don't seem to
mind a bit. And I say, Keziah dear, now that Miss May is really going
to get married and settled, sha'n't we make it right now?"
"Now I tell you what it is, young man," said Keziah fiercely, "I hate
the very name of marrying, and if you say another word to me about it
I'll never have you at all. When I want to be married I'll ask you, and
not before, so now be off."
"But will you want to some day?" said Peter pitifully.
"Perhaps I shall, and perhaps I sha'n't; I'm seeing enough of it to
satisfy me, so I tell you."
Peter groaned.
"Now don't make that noise here," cried Keziah snappishly. "If you
can't behave yourself, you'd better go."
"I won't do so any more, dear," said Peter softly. "How's poor dear
Miss May?"
"O, don't ask me--poor lamb!" cried Keziah.
"It is to be, isn't it?" said Peter.
"To be! Yes. They've talked her into it, now that your fine Mr Marr
has proved himself such a good-for-nothing. It's to be, sure enough,
and I wish them all joy of what they've done. They're killing her
between them, and then they'll be happy. Get married! There, don't
drive me wild, Peter Pash, but be off out of my sight, for I hate the
very sound of the word, and don't you come here any more till I ask
you."
Peter Pash groaned; and then rising he departed in a very disconsolate
state of mind, for he considered himself to be far more worthy of pity
than May Richards.
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