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Support the Monkey! Tell All your Friends and Teachers |
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Support the Monkey! Tell All your Friends and Teachers |
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42 Chapter 4 What vain weathercocks we are! I, who had determined to hold myself independent of all social intercourse, and thanked my stars that, at length, I had lighted on a spot where it was next to impracticable--I, weak wretch, after maintaining till dusk a struggle with low spirits and solitude, was finally compelled to strike my colours; and, under pretence of gaining information concerning the necessities of my establishment, I desired Mrs. Dean, when she brought in supper, to sit down while I ate it; hoping sincerely she would prove a regular gossip, and either rouse me to animation or lull me to sleep by her talk. “You have lived here a considerable time,” I commenced; “did you not say sixteen years?” “Eighteen, sir; I came, when the mistress was married, to wait on her; after she died, the master retained me for his housekeeper.” “Indeed.” There ensued a pause. She was not a gossip, I feared, unless about her own affairs, and those could hardly interest me. However, having studied for an interval, with a fist on either knee, and a cloud of meditation over her ruddy countenance, she ejaculated-- “Ah, times are greatly changed since then!” “Yes,” I remarked; “you’ve seen a good many alterations, I suppose?” “I have: and troubles too,” she said. “Oh, I’ll turn the talk on my landlord’s family!” I thought to |
