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ON HIS WAY THROUGH THE WORLD 583
you doubt it ? I am as good a man as Brummell Firmin, I say. I
ain't so tall. But I'll do a copy of Latin alcaics or Greek iambics
against him or any other of my weight. Do you mean to insult
me ? Don't I know who you are ? Are you better than a Master
of Arts and a clergyman ? He went out in medicine, Firmin did.
Do you mean when a Master of Arts and classical scholar offers
you his hand and fortune, that you're above him and refuse him,
by George ?"
The Little Sister was growing bewildered and frightened by
the man's energy and horrid looks. " Oh, Mr. Hunt !" she cried,
" see here, take this ! See—there are two hundred and thirty—
thirty-six pounds and all these things ! Take them, and give me
that paper."
" Sovereigns, and notes, and spoons, and a watch, and what I
have in my pocket—and that ain't much—and Firmin's bill !
Three hundred and eighty-six four three. It's a fortune, my dear,
with economy ! I won't have you going on being a nurse and that
kind of thing. I'm a scholar and a gentleman—I am—and that
place ain't fit for Mrs. Hunt. We'll first spend your money. No :
we'll first spend my money—three hundred and eighty-six and—
and hang the change—and when that's gone, we'll have another
bill from that bald-headed old scoundrel : and his son who struck a
poor cler ________ We will, I say, Caroline—we _________ "
The wretch was suiting actions to his words, and rose once
more, advancing towards his hostess, who shrank back, laughing
half-hysterically, and retreating as the other neared her. Behind
her was that cupboard which had contained her poor little treasure
and other stores, and appended to the lock of which her keys were
still hanging. As the brute approached her, she flung back the
cupboard-door smartly upon him. The keys struck him on the
head ; and bleeding, and with a curse and a cry, he fell back on
his chair.
In the cupboard was that bottle which she had received from
America not long since; and about which she had talked with
Goodenough on that very day. It had been used twice or thrice
by his direction, by hospital surgeons, and under her eye. She
suddenly seized this bottle. As the ruffian before her uttered his
imprecations of wrath, she poured out a quantity of the contents
of the bottle on her handkerchief. She said, " Oh ! Mr. Hunt,
have I hurt you ? I didn't mean it. But you shouldn't—you
shouldn't frighten a lonely woman so ! Here, let me bathe you !
Smell this! It will—it will do you—good—it will—it will,
indeed." The handkerchief was over his face. Bewildered by
drink before, the fumes of the liquor which he was absorbing