Why should she be inclined to forgive him now?« said my mother, rather
sharply.
    »Now that he's got a brother, I mean,« said Peggotty.
    My mother immediately began to cry, and wondered how Peggotty dared to say
such a thing.
    »As if this poor little innocent in its cradle had ever done any harm to you
or anybody else, you jealous thing!« said she. »You had much better go and marry
Mr. Barkis, the carrier. Why don't you?«
    »I should make Miss Murdstone happy, if I was to,« said Peggotty.
    »What a bad disposition you have, Peggotty!« returned my mother. »You are as
jealous of Miss Murdstone as it is possible for a ridiculous creature to be. You
want to keep the keys yourself, and give out all the things, I suppose? I
shouldn't be surprised if you did. When you know that she only does it out of
kindness and the best intentions! You know she does, Peggotty - you know it
well.«
    Peggotty muttered something to the effect of »Bother the best intentions!«
and something else to the effect that there was a little too much of the best
intentions going on.
    »I know what you mean, you cross thing,« said my mother. »I understand you,
Peggotty, perfectly. You know I do, and I wonder you don't colour up like fire.
But one point at a time. Miss Murdstone is the point now, Peggotty, and you
sha'n't escape from it. Haven't you heard her say, over and over again, that she
thinks I am too thoughtless and too - a - a -«
    »Pretty,« suggested Peggotty.
    »Well,« returned my mother, half laughing, »and if she is so silly as to say
so, can I be blamed for it?«
    »No one says you can,« said Peggotty.
    »No, I should hope not, indeed!« returned my mother. »Haven't you heard her
say, over and over again, that on this account she wishes to spare me a great
deal of trouble, which she thinks I am not suited for, and which I really don't
know myself that I am suited for; and isn't she up early and late, and going to
and fro continually - and doesn't she do all sorts of things, and grope into all
sorts of places, coal-holes and
