'Why, your man, your informing kidnapping man, has been and broke it,'
rejoined Squeers sulkily; 'that's what's the matter with it. You've come
at last, have you?'
'Why have you not sent to me?' said Ralph. 'How could I come till I knew
what had befallen you?'
'My family!' hiccuped Mr Squeers, raising his eye to the ceiling: 'my
daughter, as is at that age when all the sensibilities is a-coming out
strong in blow--my son as is the young Norval of private life, and the
pride and ornament of a doting willage--here's a shock for my family!
The coat-of-arms of the Squeerses is tore, and their sun is gone down
into the ocean wave!'
'You have been drinking,' said Ralph, 'and have not yet slept yourself
sober.'
'I haven't been drinking YOUR health, my codger,' replied Mr Squeers;
'so you have nothing to do with that.'
Ralph suppressed the indignation which the schoolmaster's altered and
insolent manner awakened, and asked again why he had not sent to him.
'What should I get by sending to you?' returned Squeers. 'To be known to
be in with you wouldn't do me a deal of good, and they won't take bail
till they know something more of the case, so here am I hard and fast:
and there are you, loose and comfortable.
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