Free eBooks at Planet eBook.com 0had engaged to find a lodging in the neighbourhood for
Mrs. Heep, whose rheumatic complaint required change of
air, and who would be charmed to have it in such company.
Neither was I surprised when, on the very next day, Uriah,
like a dutiful son, brought his worthy mother to take pos-
session.
‘You see, Master Copperfield,’ said he, as he forced him-
self upon my company for a turn in the Doctor’s garden,
‘where a person loves, a person is a little jealous - leastways,
anxious to keep an eye on the beloved one.’
‘Of whom are you jealous, now?’ said I.
‘Thanks to you, Master Copperfield,’ he returned, ‘of no
one in particular just at present - no male person, at least.’
‘Do you mean that you are jealous of a female person?’
He gave me a sidelong glance out of his sinister red eyes,
and laughed.
‘Really, Master Copperfield,’ he said, ‘- I should say Mis-
ter, but I know you’ll excuse the abit I’ve got into - you’re
so insinuating, that you draw me like a corkscrew! Well, I
don’t mind telling you,’ putting his fish-like hand on mine,
‘I’m not a lady’s man in general, sir, and I never was, with
Mrs. Strong.’
His eyes looked green now, as they watched mine with a
rascally cunning.
‘What do you mean?’ said I.
‘Why, though I am a lawyer, Master Copperfield,’ he re-
plied, with a dry grin, ‘I mean, just at present, what I say.’
‘And what do you mean by your look?’ I retorted, qui-
etly.