handle of the umbrella
at Tom, that but for them fellers never being in the way when they was
wanted, she'd have given him in charge, she would.

'If they greased their whiskers less, and minded the duties which
they're paid so heavy for, a little more,' she observed, 'no one needn't
be drove mad by scrouding so!'

She had been grievously knocked about, no doubt, for her bonnet was bent
into the shape of a cocked hat. Being a fat little woman, too, she was
in a state of great exhaustion and intense heat. Instead of pursuing the
altercation, therefore, Tom civilly inquired what boat she wanted to go
on board of?

'I suppose,' returned the lady, 'as nobody but yourself can want to look
at a steam package, without wanting to go a-boarding of it, can they!
Booby!'

'Which one do you want to look at then?' said Tom. 'We'll make room for
you if we can. Don't be so ill-tempered.'

'No blessed creetur as ever I was with in trying times,' returned the
lady, somewhat softened, 'and they're a many in their numbers, ever
brought it as a charge again myself that I was anythin' but mild and
equal in my spirits. Never mind a contradicting of me, if you seem
to feel it does you good, ma'am, I often says, for well you know that
Sairey may be trusted not to give it back again. But I will not denige
that I am worrited and wexed this day, and with good reagion, Lord
forbid!'

By this time, Mrs Gamp (for it was no other than that experienced
practitioner) had, with Tom's assistance, squeezed and worked herself
into a small corner between Ruth and the rail; where, after breathing
very hard for some little time, and performing a short series of
dangerous evolutions with her umbrella, she managed to establish herself
pretty comfortably.

'And which of all them smoking monsters is the Ankworks boat, I wonder.
Goodness me!' cried Mrs Gamp.

'What boat did you want?' asked Ruth.

'The Ankworks package,' Mrs Gamp replied. 'I will not deceive you, my
sweet. Why should I?'

'That is the Antwerp packet in the middle,' said Ruth.

'And I wish it was in Jonadge's belly, I do,' cried Mrs Gamp; appearing
to confound the prophet with the whale in this miraculous aspiration.

Ruth said nothing in reply; but, as Mrs Gamp, laying her chin against
the cool iron of the rail, continued to look intently at the Antwerp
boat, and every now and then to give a little groan, she inquired
whether any child of hers was going aboard that morning? Or perh