IN DICKENS'S LONDON
having the house turned out of window, and noise enough made to bring the fire-engines here, at two o'clock in the morning? Turn them wretches away.'
"'You ought to be ashamed of yourselves,' said the voice of Mr. Raddle, which appeared to proceed from beneath some distant bed-clothes.
"'Ashamed of themselves!' said Mrs. Raddle. 'Why don't you go down and knock 'em every one down stairs? You would if you was a man.'
"'I should if I was a dozen men, my dear,' replied Mr. Raddle, pacifically, 'but they've rather the advantage of me in numbers, my dear,'
'"They're going, Mrs. Raddle, they're going,' said the miserable Bob. 'I am afraid you'd better go,' said Mr. Bob Sawyer to his friends. 'I thought you were making too much noise.'
"'Now, Mr. Sawyer,' screamed the shrill voice of Mrs. Raddle, 'are them brutes going?'
"'They're only looking for their hats, Mrs. Raddle,' said Bob; 'they are going directly.'
"'Going!' said Mrs. Raddle, thrusting her night-cap over the banisters just as Mr. Pickwick, followed by Mr. Tupman, emerged from the sitting-room. 'Going! what did they ever come for?'
"'My dear Ma'am,' remonstrated Mr. Pickwick, looking up.
"'Get along with you, you old wretch!' replied Mrs. Raddle, hastily withdrawing the night-cap. 'Old enough to be his grandfather, you villin! You're worse than any of 'em."
24
