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Chapter 19. The Father of the Marshalsea in two or three Relations

           

           HisbrotherFrederickofthedimeye,palsiedhand,bentform,andgropingmind,submissivelyshuffledathisside,acceptinghispatronageasheacceptedeveryincidentofthelabyrinthianworldinwhichhehadgotlost.Heheldtheusualscrewedbitofwhitey-brownpaperinhishand,fromwhichheeverandagainunscrewedasparepinchofsnuff.Thatfalteringlytaken,hewouldglanceathisbrothernotunadmiringly,puthishandsbehindhim,andshuffleonsoathissideuntilhetookanotherpinch,orstoodstilltolookabouthim—perchancesuddenlymissinghisclarionet.

           TheCollegevisitorsweremeltingawayastheshadesofnightdrewon,buttheyardwasstillprettyfull,theCollegiansbeingmostlyout,seeingtheirfriendstotheLodge.Asthebrotherspacedtheyard,Williamthebondlookedabouthimtoreceivesalutes,returnedthembygraciouslyliftingoffhishat,and,withanengagingair,preventedFrederickthefreefromrunningagainstthecompany,orbeingjostledagainstthewall.TheCollegiansasabodywerenoteasilyimpressible,buteventhey,accordingtotheirvariouswaysofwondering,appearedtofindinthetwobrothersasighttowonderat.

           ‘Youarealittlelowthisevening,Frederick,’saidtheFatheroftheMarshalsea.‘Anythingthematter?’

           ‘Thematter?’Hestaredforamoment,andthendroppedhisheadandeyesagain.‘No,William,no.Nothingisthematter.’

           ‘Ifyoucouldbepersuadedtosmartenyourselfupalittle,Frederick—’

           ‘Aye,aye!’saidtheoldmanhurriedly.‘ButIcan’tbe.Ican’tbe.Don’ttalkso.That’sallover.

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