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< I'll hop into the cupboard.
ALICE.
Not for the world! she is sure to want something out of it. Here, here,
get into this clothes-basket, and let me cover you over with the foul
linen.
KNICKERBOCKER.
It's a very foul piece of business altogether but I must stomach it
whether I will or no.
_Music.--She puts him into the basket and covers him with linen._
DAME _enters, dragging in_ RIP.
DAME.
And now, sir, I've got you home, what have you to say for yourself, I
should like to know?
RIP.
Nothing, [my](53) darling, de least said is soonest mended, and so you
shall have all de talk to yourself.--Now ain't dat liberal?
DAME.
Where's all the game you were to bring home?
RIP.
On de wing still: wouldn't venture to come mitin fire; for though dey
missed mine gun, dere's one ting for certain, I never miss your blowing
up.
DAME.
My blowing up! Odds bodikins and pins! I shall never be able to contain
myself! Where's the money to pay the rent, you oaf?
RIP.
I don't know.--Do you?
DAME.
You'll go to prison, and that'll be the end on't.
RIP.
Come, no more quarrelling to-night. [We'll](54) see about de rent money
to-morrow morning.
DAME.
To-morrow! it's always to-morrow with you. So, Alice, you are sitting
and idling as usual, just like your brother, a precious pair of soft
pates.
RIP.
Soft [pate](55)--pretty hard I guess, or it would have been
[fructured](56) long since and dat's a fact.
DAME.
And now, Alice, come with me that I may satisfy myself how you have
disposed of the children, for in these matters you are just such a
crawler as that vagrum there, [_Is retiring._] that terrapin!
RIP.
Terrapin! Ah, dame, I leaves you to go the whole hog, but hark'ee, my
lovey, before you go, won't you return de leetle bottle which you manage
to get from me [last night]?(57)
DAME.
Odds bodikins, and pins! A man already drunk, and asking for more
liquor! You sha'n't have a drop, you sot, that you shall not. The bottle
indeed! not you, eh! faith!
[_Exit with_ ALICE.
RIP.
[Tunder](58) take me if I don't [think](59) but what she has
[finished](60) it herself, and dat's de f]]>
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