Whether I should or should not open to
him the subject that had taken me thither, I must, I saw, let him
have his humour till the woman was dismissed.
'And now, goddess,' said he, 'while I am doing justice to the design
of your nose--'
'You can't do that, sir,' interjected the creature, 'it's sich a
beauty, ha! ha! I allus say that when I do die, I shall die
a-larfin'. They calls me "Jokin' Meg" in Primrose Court. I shall die
a-larfin', they say in Primrose Court, and so I shall--unless I die
a-cryin',' she added in an utterly different and tragic voice which
greatly struck me.
'While I am trying to do justice to that beautiful bridge you must
tell my friend about yourself and your daughter, and how you and she
first became two shining lights in the art world of London.'
'You makes me blush,' said the woman, 'an' blow me if blushin' ain't
bin an' made _t'other_ eye dry.'
She then took another glass of ale, grinned, shook herself, as though
preparing for an effort, and said,
'Well you must know, sir, as my name's Meg Gudgeon, leaseways that
was my name till my darter chrissened me Mrs.
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