These observations were partly addressed to the old gentleman, partly to Kate, and partly delivered in soliloquy. Towards their conclusion, the suitor evinced a very irreverent degree of inattention and Mrs. Nickleby had scarcely finished speaking, when, to the great terror both of that lady and her daughter, he suddenly flung off his coat, and springing on the top of the wall, threw himself into an attitude which displayed his small-clothes and grey worsteds to the fullest advantage, and concluded by standing on one leg, and repeating his favourite bellow with increased vehemence.
While he was still dwelling on the last note, and embellishing it with a prolonged flourish, a dirty hand was observed to glide stealthily and swiftly along the top of the wall, as if in pursuit of a fly, and then to clasp with the utmost dexterity one of the old gentleman's ancles. This done, the companion hand appeared, and clasped the other ancle.
Thus encumbered the old gentleman lifted his legs awkwardly once or twice, as if they were very clumsy and imperfect pieces of machinery, and then looking down on his own side of the wall, burst into a loud laugh.
"It's you, is it?" said the old gentleman.
"Yes, it's me," replied a gruff voice.
"How's the Emperor of Tartary?" said the old gentleman.
"Oh! he's much the same as usual," was the reply. "No better and no worse."
"The young Prince of China," said the old gentleman, with much interest. "Is he reconciled to his father-in-law, the great potato salesman?"
"No," answered the gruff voice; "and he says he never will be, that's more."
"If that's the case," observed the old gentleman, "perhaps I'd better come down."
"Well," said the man on the other side, "I think you had, perhaps."
One of the hands being then cautiously unclasped, the old gentleman dropped into a sitting posture, and was looking round to smile and bow to Mrs. Nickleby, when he disappeared with some precipitation, as if his legs had been pulled from below.
Very much relieved by his disappearance, Kate was turning to speak to her mama, when the dirty hands again became visible, and were immediately followed by the figure of a coarse squat man, who ascended by the steps which had been recently occupied by their singular neighbour.
"Beg your pardon, ladies," said this new comer, grinning and touching his hat. "Has he been making love to either of you?"
"Yes," said Kate.
"Ah!" rejoined the man, taking his handkerchief out of his hat and wiping his face, "he always will, you know. Nothing will prevent his making love."
"I need not ask you if he is out of his mind, poor creature," said Kate.
