here should be such a thing
as a cowcumber in the 'ouse, will you be so kind as bring it, for I'm
rather partial to 'em, and they does a world of good in a sick room. If
they draws the Brighton Old Tipper here, I takes THAT ale at night, my
love, it bein' considered wakeful by the doctors. And whatever you
do, young woman, don't bring more than a shilling's-worth of gin and
water-warm when I rings the bell a second time; for that is always my
allowance, and I never takes a drop beyond!'

Having preferred these moderate requests, Mrs Gamp observed that she
would stand at the door until the order was executed, to the end that
the patient might not be disturbed by her opening it a second time; and
therefore she would thank the young woman to 'look sharp.'

A tray was brought with everything upon it, even to the cucumber and
Mrs Gamp accordingly sat down to eat and drink in high good humour. The
extent to which she availed herself of the vinegar, and supped up that
refreshing fluid with the blade of her knife, can scarcely be expressed
in narrative.

'Ah!' sighed Mrs Gamp, as she meditated over the warm shilling's-worth,
'what a blessed thing it is--living in a wale--to be contented! What a
blessed thing it is to make sick people happy in their beds, and never
mind one's self as long as one can do a service! I don't believe a finer
cowcumber was ever grow'd. I'm sure I never see one!'

She moralised in the same vein until her glass was empty, and then
administered the patient's medicine, by the simple process of clutching
his windpipe to make him gasp, and immediately pouring it down his
throat.

'I a'most forgot the piller, I declare!' said Mrs Gamp, drawing it away.
'There! Now he's comfortable as he can be, I'm sure! I must try to make
myself as much so as I can.'

With this view, she went about the construction of an extemporaneous bed
in the easy-chair, with the addition of the next easy one for her feet.
Having formed the best couch that the circumstances admitted of, she
took out of her bundle a yellow night-cap, of prodigious size, in shape
resembling a cabbage; which article of dress she fixed and tied on with
the utmost care, previously divesting herself of a row of bald old
curls that could scarcely be called false, they were so very innocent of
anything approaching to deception. From the same repository she brought
forth a night-jacket, in which she also attired herself. Finally, she
produced a watchman's