Mrs. Caudle's Curtain LecturesJerrold, Douglas William
General
Mrs. Caudle's Curtain Lectures
Jerrold, Douglas William
English wit and humor; Marriage -- Humor
"If I hadn't, I've no doubt the fellow would have stayed all night.
It's all very well for you, Mr. Caudle, to bring people home--but I
wish you'd think first what's for supper. That beautiful leg of pork
would have served for our dinner to-morrow,--and now it's gone. _I_
can't keep the house upon the money, and I won't pretend to do it, if
you bring a mob of people every night to clear out the cupboard.
"I wonder who'll be so ready to give you a supper when you want one:
for want one you will, unless you change your plans. Don't tell me!
I know I'm right. You'll first be eaten up, and then you'll be
laughed at. I know the world. No, indeed, Mr. Caudle, I don't think
ill of everybody; don't say that. But I can't see a leg of pork
eaten up in that way, without asking myself what it's all to end in
if such things go on? And then he must have pickles, too! Couldn't
be content with my cabbage--no, Mr. Caudle, I won't let you go to
sleep. It's very well for you to say let you go to sleep, after
you've kept me awake till this time.
"WHY DID I KEEP AWAKE?
"How do you suppose I could go to sleep when I knew that man was
below drinking up your substance in brandy-and-water? for he couldn't
be content upon decent, wholesome gin. Upon my word, you ought to be
a rich man, Mr. Caudle. You have such very fine friends, I wonder
who gives you brandy when you go out!
"No, indeed, he couldn't be content with my pickled cabbage--and I
should like to know who makes better--but he must have walnuts. And
you, too, like a fool--now, don't you think to stop me, Mr. Caudle; a
poor woman may be trampled to death, and never say a word--you, too,
like a fool--I wonder who'd do it for you--to insist upon the girl
going out for pickled walnuts. And in such a night too! With snow
upon the ground. Yes; you're a man of fine feelings, you are, Mr.
Caudle; but the world doesn't know you as I know you--fine feelings,
indeed! to send the poor girl out, when I told you and told your
friend, too--a pretty brute he is, I'm sure--that the poor girl had
got a cold and I dare say chilblains on her toes. But I know what
will be the end of that; she'll be laid up, and we shall have a nice
doctor's bill. And you'll pay it, I can tell you--for _I_ won't.
"YOU WISH YOU WERE OUT OF THE WORLD?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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