第172章

Whatever she was, or whatever name the vocabulary of medical science would have bestowed upon her malady, Mrs. Gamp was perfectly acquainted with the way home again; and arriving at the house of Anthony Chuzzlewit & Son, lay down to rest. Remaining there until seven o'clock in the evening, and then persuading poor old Chuffey to betake himself to bed, she sallied forth upon her new engagement. First, she went to her private lodgings in Kingsgate Street, for a bundle of robes and wrappings comfortable in the night season: and then repaired to the Bull in Holborn, which she reached as the clocks were striking eight.

As she turned into the yard, she stopped; for the landlord, landlady, and head chambermaid, were all on the threshold together talking earnestly with a young gentleman who seemed to have just come or to be just going away. The first words that struck upon Mrs. Gamp's ear obviously bore reference to the patient; and it being expedient that all good attendants should know as much as possible about the case on which their skill is brought to bear, Mrs. Gamp listened as a matter of duty.

`No better, then?' observed the gentleman.

`Worse!' said the landlord.

`Much worse,' added the landlady.

`Oh! a deal badder,' cried the chambermaid from the background, opening her eyes very wide, and shaking her head.

`Poor fellow!' said the gentleman, `I am sorry to hear it. The worst of it is, that I have no idea what friends or relations he has, or where they live, except that it certainly is not in London.'

The landlord looked at the landlady; the landlady looked at the landlord; and the chambermaid remarked, hysterically, `that of all the many wague directions she had ever seen or heerd of (and they wasn't few in an hotel), that was the waguest.'

`The fact is, you see,' pursued the gentleman, `as I told you yesterday when you sent to me, I really know very little about him. We were school-fellows together; but since that time I have only met him twice. On both occasions I was in London for a boy's holiday (having come up for a week or so from Wiltshire), and lost sight of him again directly. The letter bearing my name and address which you found upon his table, and which led to your applying to me, is in answer, you will observe, to one he wrote from this house the very day he was taken ill, making an appointment with him at his own request. Here is his letter, if you wish to see it.'

The landlord read it: the landlady looked over him. The chambermaid, in the background, made out as much of it as she could, and invented the rest; believing it all from that time forth as a positive piece of evidence.

`He has very little luggage, you say?' observed the gentleman, who was no other than our old friend, John Westlock.

`Nothing but a portmanteau,' said the landlord; `and very little in it.'

`A few pounds in his purse, though?'

`Yes. It's sealed up, and in the cash-box. I made a memorandum of the amount, which you're welcome to see.'

`Well!' said John, `as the medical gentleman says the fever must take its course, and nothing can be done just now beyond giving him his drinks regularly and having him carefully attended to, nothing more can be said that I know of, until he is in a condition to give us some information.

Can you suggest anything else?'

`N-no,' replied the landlord, `except--'

`Except, who's to pay, I suppose?' said John.

`Why,' hesitated the landlord, `it would be as well.'

`Quite as well,' said the landlady.

`Not forgetting to remember the servants,' said the chambermaid in a bland whisper.

`It is but reasonable, I fully admit,' said John Westlock. `At all events, you have the stock in hand to go upon for the present; and I will readily undertake to pay the doctor and the nurses.'

`Ah!' cried Mrs. Gamp. `A rayal gentleman!'

She groaned her admiration so audibly, that they all turned round. Mrs.

Gamp felt the necessity of advancing, bundle in hand, and introducing herself.

`The night-nurse,' she observed, `from Kingsgate Street, well beknown to Mrs. Prig the day-nurse, and the best of creeturs. How is the poor dear gentleman to-night? If he an't no better yet, still that is what must be expected and prepared for. It an't the fust time by a many score, ma'am,' dropping a curtsey to the landlady, `that Mrs. Prig and me has nussed together, turn and turn about one off, one on. We knows each other's ways, and often gives relief when others falled. our charges is but low, sir:' Mrs. Gamp addressed herself to John on this head: `considerin' the nater of our painful dooty; If they was made accordin' to our wishes, they would be easy paid.'

Regarding herself as having now delivered her inauguration address, Mrs. Gamp curtseyed all round, and signified her wish to be conducted to the scene of her official duties. The chambermaid led her, through a variety of intricate passages, to the top of the house; and pointing at length to a solitary door at the end of a gallery informed her that yonder was the chamber where the patient lay. That done, she hurried off with all the speed she could make.

Mrs. Gamp traversed the gallery in a great heat from having carried her large bundle up so many stairs, and tapped at the door which was immediately opened by Mrs. Prig, bonneted and shawled and all impatience to be gone.

Mrs. Prig was of the Gamp build, but not so fat; and her voice was deeper and more like a man's. She had also a beard.

`I began to think you warn't a-coming!' Mrs. Prig observed, in some displeasure.

`It shall be made good to-morrow night,' said Mrs. Gamp ` h onorable.

I had to go and fetch my things.' She had begun to make signs of inquiry in reference to the position of the patient and his over-hearing them -- for there was a screen before the door -- when Mrs. Prig settled that point easily.

`Oh!' she said aloud, `he's quiet, but his wits is gone. It an't no matter wot you say.'

`Anythin' to tell afore you goes, my dear?' asked Mrs. Gamp, setting her bundle down inside the door, and looking affectionately at her partner.