; and was perhaps the
turning of a scale more snuffy.
    »There are some happy creeturs,« Mrs. Gamp observed, »as time runs back'ards
with, and you are one, Mrs. Mould; not that he need do nothing except use you in
his most owldacious way for years to come, I'm sure; for young you are and will
be. I says to Mrs. Harris,« Mrs. Gamp continued, »only t'other day; the last
Monday evening fortnight as ever dawned upon this Piljian's Projiss of a mortal
wale; I says to Mrs. Harris when she says to me, Years and our trials, Mrs.
Gamp, sets marks upon us all. - Say not the words, Mrs. Harris, if you and me is
to be continual friends, for sech is not the case. Mrs. Mould, I says, making so
free, I will confess, as use the name,« (she curtseyed here,) »is one of them
that goes agen the observation straight; and never, Mrs. Harris, whilst I've a
drop of breath to draw, will I set by, and not stand up, don't think it. - I ast
your pardon, ma'am, says Mrs. Harris, and I humbly grant your grace; for if ever
a woman lived as would see her feller creeturs into fits to serve her friends,
well do I know that woman's name is Sairey Gamp.«
    At this point she was fain to stop for breath; and advantage may be taken of
the circumstance, to state that a fearful mystery surrounded this lady of the
name of Harris, whom no one in the circle of Mrs. Gamp's acquaintance had ever
seen; neither did any human being know her place of residence, though Mrs. Gamp
appeared on her own showing to be in constant communication with her. There were
conflicting rumours on the subject; but the prevalent opinion was that she was a
phantom of Mrs. Gamp's brain - as Messrs. Doe and Roe are fictions of the law -
created for the express purpose of holding visionary dialogues with her on all
manner of subjects, and invariably winding up with a compliment to the
excellence of her nature.
    »And likeways what a pleasure,« said Mrs. Gamp, turning with a tearful smile
towards the daughters, »to see them two young ladies as I know'd afore a tooth
in their pretty heads was cut, and have many a day seen - ah, the sweet
