 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, »honorable. 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 overhearing 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.
    »The pickled salmon,« Mrs. Prig replied, »is quite delicious. I can
partick'ler recommend it. Don't have nothink to say to the cold meat, for it
tastes of the stable. The drinks is all good.«
    Mrs. Gamp expressed herself much gratified.
    »The physic and them things is on the drawers and mankleshelf,« said Mrs.
Prig, cursorily. »He took his last slime draught at seven. The easy-chair an't
soft enough. You'll want his piller.«
    Mrs. Gamp thanked her for these hints, and giving her a friendly good night,
held the door open until she had disappeared at the other end of the gallery.
Having thus performed the hospitable duty of seeing her safely off, she shut it,
locked it on the inside, took up her bundle, walked round the screen, and
entered on her occupation of the sick chamber.
    »A little dull, but not so bad as might be,« Mrs. Gamp remarked. »I'm glad
to see a parapidge, in case of fire, and lots of roofs and chimley-pots to walk
upon.«
    It will be seen from these remarks that Mrs. Gamp was looking out of window.
When she had exhausted the prospect, she tried the easy-chair, which she
indignantly declared was »harder than a brickbadge.« Next she pursued her
researches among the physic-bottles, glasses, jugs, and teacup; and when she had
entirely satisfied her curiosity on all these subjects of investigation, she
untied her bonnet-strings and strolled up to the bedside to take a look at the
patient.
    A young man - dark and not ill-looking - with long black
