ehadteaattheInnandtheretheyallwere,slapping,stamping,saying,"Afteryou,"clipped,curt,jocose,redasthewattlesofturkeys,usingfreespeechuntilMrs.HorsefieldandherfriendMissDuddingappearedatthedoorwaywiththeirskirtshitchedup,andhairloopingdown.ThenTomDuddingrappedatthewindowwithhiswhip.Amotorcarthrobbedinthecourtyard.Gentlemen,feelingformatches,movedout,andJacobwentintothebarwithBrandyJonestosmokewiththerustics.TherewasoldJevonswithoneeyegone,andhisclothesthecolourofmud,hisbagoverhisback,andhisbrainslaidfeetdowninearthamongthevioletrootsandthenettlerootsMarySanderswithherboxofwoodandTomsentforbeer,thehalf-wittedsonofthesexton—allthiswithinthirtymilesofLondon.
Mrs.Papworth,ofEndellStreet,CoventGarden,didforMr.BonamyinNewSquare,Lincoln'sInn,andasshewashedupthedinnerthingsinthescullerysheheardtheyounggentlementalkingintheroomnextdoor.Mr.SanderswasthereagainFlandersshemeantandwhereaninquisitiveoldwomangetsanamewrong,whatchanceistherethatshewillfaithfullyreportanargument?Assheheldtheplatesunderwaterandthendealtthemonthepilebeneaththehissinggas,shelistened:heardSandersspeakinginaloudratheroverbearingtoneofvoice:"good,"hesaid,and"absolute"and"justice"and"punishment,"and"thewillofthemajority."ThenhergentlemanpipedupshebackedhimforargumentagainstSanders.YetSanderswasafineyoungfellow(hereallthescrapswentswirlingroundthesink,scouredafterbyherpurple,almostnaillesshands)."Women"—shethought,andwonderedwhatSandersandhergentlemandidinTHATline,oneeyelidsinkingperceptiblyasshemused,forshewasthemotherofnine—threestill-bornandonedeafanddumbfrombirth.PuttingtheplatesintheracksheheardoncemoreSandersatitagain("Hedon'tgiveBonamyachance,"shethought)."Objectivesomething,"saidBonamyand"commonground"andsomethingelse—allverylongwords,shenoted."Booklearningdoesit,"shethoughttoherself,and,asshethrustherarmsintoherjacket,heardsomething—mightbethelittletablebythefire—fallandthenstamp,stamp,stamp—asiftheywerehavingateachother—roundtheroom,makingtheplatesdance.
"To-morrow'sbreakfast,sir,"shesaid,openingthedoorandtherewereSandersandBonamyliketwobullsofBashandrivingeachotherupanddown,makingsucharacket,andallthemchairsintheway.Theynevernoticedher.Shefeltmotherlytowardsthem."Yourbreakfast,sir,"shesaid,astheycamenear.AndBonamy,allhishairtouzledandhistieflying,brokeoff,andpushedSandersintothearm-chair,andsai