"Still," submitted Miss Petowker, "if she has a proper pride in herself, you know—"
"There's a good deal in that," observed Mrs. Kenwigs, looking at her husband.
"I only know—" faltered Miss Petowker,—"it may be no rule to be sure—but I have never found any inconvenience or unpleasantness of that sort."
Mr. Kenwigs, with becoming gallantry, said that settled the question at once, and that he would take the subject into his serious consideration: this being resolved upon. Miss Petowker was entreated to begin the Blood-Drinker s Burial, to which end, that young lady let down her back hair, and taking up her position at the other end of the room, with the bachelor friend posted in a corner, to rush out at the cue "in death expire," and catch her in his arms when she died raving mad, went through the performance with extraordinary spirit, and to the great terror of the little Kenwigses, who were all but frightened into fits.
The ecstacies consequent upon the effort had not yet subsided, and Newman (who had not been thoroughly sober at so late an hour for a long long time,) had not yet been able to put in a word of announcement that the punch was ready, when a hasty knock was heard at the room-door, which elicited a shriek from Mrs. Kenwigs, who immediately divined that the baby had fallen out of bed.
""Who is that? " demanded Mr. Kenwigs, sharply.
"Don't be alarmed, it's only me," said Crowl, looking in, in his nightcap. "The baby is very comfortable, for I peeped into the room as I came down, and it's fast asleep, and so is the girl; and I don't think the candle will set fire to the bed-curtain, unless a draught gets into the room—it's Mr. Noggs, that's wanted."
"Me!" cried Newman, much astonished.
"Why it is a queer hour, isn't it? " replied Crowl, who was not best pleased at the prospect of losing his fire; "and they are queer-looking people, too, all covered with rain and mud. Shall I tell them to go away?"
"No," said Newman, rising. "People? How many?"
"Two," rejoined Crowl.
"Want me? By name?" asked Newman.
"By name," replied Crowl. "Mr. Newman Noggs, as pat as need be."
Newman reflected for a few seconds, and then hurried away, muttering that he would be back directly. He was as good as his word; for in an exceedingly short time he burst into the room, and seizing, without a word of apology or explanation, a lighted candle and tumbler of hot punch from the table, darted away like a madman.
"What the deuce is the matter with him!" exclaimed Crowl, throwing the door open. "Hark! Is there any noise above?"
The guests rose in great confusion, and, looking in each other's faces with much perplexity and some fear, stretched their necks forward, and listened attentively.
