'How is he now, sir?' she said.
'Who?' cried Jonas, raising his head, and staring at her.
'To be sure!' returned the matron with a smile and a curtsey. 'What am I
thinking of! You wasn't here, sir, when he was took so strange. I never
see a poor dear creetur took so strange in all my life, except a patient
much about the same age, as I once nussed, which his calling was the
custom-'us, and his name was Mrs Harris's own father, as pleasant a
singer, Mr Chuzzlewit, as ever you heerd, with a voice like a Jew's-harp
in the bass notes, that it took six men to hold at sech times, foaming
frightful.'
'Chuffey, eh?' said Jonas carelessly, seeing that she went up to the
old, clerk, and looked at him. 'Ha!'
'The creetur's head's so hot,' said Mrs Gamp, 'that you might heat a
flat-iron at it. And no wonder I am sure, considerin' the things he
said!'
'Said!' cried Jonas. 'What did he say?'
Mrs Gamp laid her hand upon her heart, to put some check upon its
palpitations, and turning up her eyes replied in a faint voice:
'The awfulest things, Mr Chuzzlewit, as ever I heerd! Which Mrs Harris's
father never spoke a word when took so, some does and some don't, except
sayin' when he come round, "Where is Sairey Gamp?" But raly, sir, when
Mr Chuffey comes to ask who's lyin' dead upstairs, and--'
'Who's lying dead upstairs!' repeated Jonas, standing aghast.
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