 reason they were all angry
with the widow, and each lady whispered in her neighbour's ear that it was very
plain the said widow thought herself the person referred to, and what a puss she
was!
    »Mother knows,« said Mrs. Quilp, »that what I say is quite correct, for she
often said so before we were married. Didn't you say so, mother?«
    This inquiry involved the respected lady in rather a delicate position, for
she certainly had been an active party in making her daughter Mrs. Quilp, and,
besides, it was not supporting the family credit to encourage the idea that she
had married a man whom nobody else would have. On the other hand, to exaggerate
the captivating qualities of her son-in-law would be to weaken the cause of
revolt, in which all her energies were deeply engaged. Beset by these opposing
considerations, Mrs. Jiniwin admitted the powers of insinuation, but denied the
right to govern, and with a timely compliment to the stout lady brought back the
discussion to the point from which it had strayed.
    »Oh! It's a sensible and proper thing indeed, what Mrs. George has said!«
exclaimed the old lady. »If women are only true to themselves! - But Betsy
isn't, and more's the shame and pity.«
    »Before I'd let a man order me about as Quilp orders her,« said Mrs. George;
»before I'd consent to stand in awe of a man as she does of him, I'd - I'd kill
myself, and write a letter first to say he did it!«
    This remark being loudly commended and approved of, another lady (from the
Minories) put in her word:
    »Mr. Quilp may be a very nice man,« said this lady, »and I suppose there's
no doubt he is, because Mrs. Quilp says he is, and Mrs. Jiniwin says he is, and
they ought to know, or nobody does. But still he is not quite a - what one calls
a handsome man, nor quite a young man neither, which might be a little excuse
for him if anything could be; whereas his wife is young, and is good-looking,
and is a woman - which is the great thing after all.«
    This last clause being delivered with extraordinary pathos, elicited a
corresponding murmur from the hearers, stimulated by which the lady went on to
remark that if such a husband was cross and unreasonable
