第43章

"May I show my gratitude for your kind interference, by inquiring into the cause, with a view, if possible, to its removal?""Ha!" exclaimed Mr.Jingle, with another start--"removal! remove my unhappiness, and your love bestowed upon a man who is insensible to the blessing--who even now contemplates a design upon the affections of the niece of the creature who--but no; he is my friend; I will not expose his vices.Miss Wardle--farewell!" At the conclusion of this address, the most consecutive he was ever known to utter, Mr.Jingle applied to his eyes the remnant of a handkerchief before noticed, and turned towards the door.

"Stay, Mr.Jingle!" said the spinster aunt emphatically."You have made an allusion to Mr.Tupman--explain it.""Never!" exclaimed Jingle, with a professional ( i.e.theatrical)air."Never!" and, by way of showing that he had no desire to be questioned further, he drew a chair close to that of the spinster aunt and sat down.

"Mr.Jingle," said the aunt, "I entreat--I implore you, if there is any dreadful mystery connected with Mr.Tupman, reveal it.""Can I," said Mr.Jingle, fixing his eyes on the aunt's face--"can Isee--lovely creature--sacrificed at the shrine--heartless avarice!" He appeared to be struggling with various conflicting emotions for a few seconds, and then said in a low deep voice--"Tupman only wants your money."

"The wretch!" exclaimed the spinster, with energetic indignation.(Mr.

Jingle's doubts were resolved.She had money.)"More than that," said Jingle--"loves another.""Another!" ejaculated the spinster."Who?""Short girl--black eyes--niece Emily."

There was a pause.

Now, if there were one individual in the whole world, of whom the spinster aunt entertained a mortal and deeply-rooted jealousy, it was this identical niece.The colour rushed over her face and neck, and she tossed her head in silence with an air of ineffable contempt.At last, biting her thin lips, and bridling up, she said--"It can't be.I won't believe it."

"Watch 'em," said Jingle.

"I will," said the aunt.

"Watch his looks."

"I will."

"His whispers."

"I will."

"He'll sit next her at table."

"Let him."

"He'll flatter her."

"Let him."

"He'll pay her every possible attention.""Let him."

"And he'll cut you."

"Cut me! " screamed the spinster aunt." He cut me;--will he!" and she trembled with rage and disappointment.

"You will convince yourself?" said Jingle.

"I will."

"You'll show your spirit?"

"I will."

"You'll not have him afterwards?"

"Never."

"You'll take somebody else?"

"Yes."

"You shall."

Mr.Jingle fell on his knees, remained thereupon for five minutes thereafter:

and rose the accepted lover of the spinster aunt: conditionally upon Mr.

Tupman's perjury being made clear and manifest.

The burden of proof lay with Mr.Alfred Jingle; and he produced his evidence that very day at dinner.The spinster aunt could hardly believe her eyes.Mr.Tracy Tupman was established at Emily's side, ogling, whispering, and smiling, in opposition to Mr.Snodgrass.Not a word, not a look, not a glance, did he bestow upon his heart's pride of the evening before.

"Damn that boy!" thought old Mr.Wardle to himself.--He had heard the story from his mother."Damn that boy! He must have been asleep.

It's all imagination."