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nearly all the light objects it contained。 Mrs Pardiggle took
possession of Ada； and I followed with the family。
Ada told me afterwards that Mrs Pardiggle talked in the same
loud tone （that indeed I overheard）； all the way to the
brickmaker’s； about an exciting contest which she had for two or
three years； waged against another lady； relative to the bringing in
of their rival candidates for a pension somewhere。 There had been
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a quantity of printing； and promising； and proxying； and polling；
and it appeared to have imparted great liveliness to all concerned；
except the pensioners—who were not elected yet。
I am very fond of being confided in by children； and am happy
in being usually favoured in that respect； but on this occasion it
gave me great uneasiness。 As soon as we were out of doors；
Egbert； with the manner of a little footpad； demanded a shilling of
me； on the ground that his pocket…money was “boned” from him。
On my pointing out the great impropriety of the word； especially
in connection with his parent （for he added sulkily “by her！”）； he
pinched me and said “O then！ Now！ Who are you！ You wouldn’t
like it； I think？ What does she make a sham for； and pretend to
give me money； and take it away again？ Why do you call it my
allowance； and never let me spend it？” These exasperating
questions so inflamed his mind； and the minds of Oswald and
Francis； that they all pinched me at once； and in a dreadfully
expert way： screwing up such little pieces of my arms that I could
hardly forbear crying out。 Felix； at the same time； stamped upon
my toes。 And the Bond of Joy； who； on account of always having
the whole of his little income anticipated； stood in fact pledged to
abstain from cakes as well as tobacco； so swelled with grief and
rage when we passed a pastry…cook’s shop； that he terrified me by
becoming purple。 I never underwent so much； both in body and
mind； in the course of a walk with young people； as from these
unnaturally constrained children； when they paid me the
compliment of being natural。
I was glad when we came to the brickmaker’s house； though it
was one of a cluster of wretched hovels in a brickfield； with
pigsties close to the broken windows； and miserable little gardens
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before the doors； growing nothing but stagnant pools。 Here and
there； an old tub was put to catch the droppings of rainwater from
a roof； or they were banked up with mud into a little pond like a
large dirt…pie。 At the doors and windows； some men and women
lounged or prowled about； and took little notice of us； except to
laugh to one another； or to say something as we passed； about
gentle folks minding their own business； and not troubling their
heads and muddying their shoes with coming to look after other
people’s。
Mrs Pardiggle； leading the way with a great show of moral
determination； and talking with much volubility about the untidy
habits of the people （though I doubted if the best of us could have
been tidy in such a place）； conducted us into a cottage at the
farthest corner； the ground…floor room of which we nearly filled。
Besides ourselves； there were in this damp offensive room—a
woman with a black eye； nursing a poor little gasping baby by the
fire； a man； all stained with clay and mud； and looking very
dissipated； lying at full length on the ground； smoking a pipe； a
powerful young man； fastening a collar on a dog； and a bold girl；
doing some kind of washing in very dirty water。 They all looked up
at us as we came in； and the woman seemed to turn her face
towards the fire； as if to hide her bruised eye； nobody gave us any
welcome； “Well； my friends；” said Mrs Pardiggle； but her voice
had not a friendly sound； I thought； it was much too business…like
and systematic。 “How do you do； all of you？ I am here again。 I told
you； you couldn’t tire me； you know。 I am fond of hard work； and
am true to my word。”
“There an’t；” growled the man on the floor； whose head rested
on his hand as he stared at us； “any more on you to come in； is
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there？”
“No； my friend；” said Mrs Pardiggle； seating herself on one
stool； and knocking down another。 “We are all here。”
“Because I thought there warn’t enough of you； perhaps？” said
the man； with his pipe between his lips as he looked round upon
us。
The young man and the girl both laughed。 Two friends of the
young man whom we had attracted to the doorway； and who stood
there with their hands in their pockets； echoed the laugh noisily。
“You can’t tire me； good people；” said Mrs Pardiggle to these
latter。 “I enjoy hard work； and the harder you make mine； the
better I like it。”
“Then make it easy for her！” growled the man upon the floor。 “I
wants it done； and over。 I wants a end of these liberties took with
my place。 I wants an end of being drawed like a badger。 Now
you’re a…going to poll…pry and question according to custom—I
know what you’re a going to be up to。 Well！ You haven’t got no
occasion； to be up to it。 I’ll save you the trouble。 Is my daughter a
washing？ Yes； she is a…washing。 Look at the water。 Smell it！ That’s
what we drinks。 How do you like it； and what do you think of gin；
instead！ An’t my place dirty？ Yes； it is dirty—it’s nat’rally dirty
and it’s nat’rally unwholesome； and we’ve had five dirty； and
unwholesome children； as is all dead infants； and so much the
better for them； and for us besides。 Have I read the little book wot
you left？ No； I an’t read the little book wot you left。 There an’t
anybody here as knows how to read it； and if there wos； it wouldn’t
be suitable to me。 It’s a book fit for a babby； and I’m not a babby。 If
you was to leave me a doll； I shouldn’t nuss it。 How have I been
conducting of myself？ Why； I’ve been drunk for three days； and I’d
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a been drunk four； if I’d a had the money。 Don’t I never mean for
to go to church？ No； I don’t never mean for to go to church。 I
shouldn’t be expected there； if I did； the beadle’s too gen…teel for
me。 And how did my wife get that black eye？ Why； I giv’ it her； and
if she says I didn’t； she’s a Lie！”