III
When the cataplasm was ready, a scruple of decorum had unseasonably rose up in SusannahвАЩs conscience about holding the candle, whilst Slop tied it on; Slop had not treated SusannahвАЩs distemper with anodynes,вБ†вАФand so a quarrel had ensued betwixt them.
вЄЇвБ†Oh! oh!вБ†вЄЇвБ†said Slop, casting a glance of undue freedom in SusannahвАЩs face, as she declined the office;вБ†вЄЇвБ†then, I think I know you, madamвБ†вЄЇвБ†You know me, Sir! cried Susannah fastidiously, and with a toss of her head, levelled evidently, not at his profession, but at the doctor himself,вБ†вЄЇвБ†you know me! cried Susannah again.вБ†вЄЇвБ†Doctor Slop clapped his finger and his thumb instantly upon his nostrils;вБ†вЄЇвБ†SusannahвАЩs spleen was ready to burst at it;вБ†вЄЇвАЩTis false, said Susannah.вБ†вАФCome, come, Mrs.¬†Modesty, said Slop, not a little elated with the success of his last thrust,вБ†вЄЇвБ†If you wonвАЩt hold the candle, and lookвБ†вАФyou may hold it and shut your eyes:вБ†вАФThatвАЩs one of your popish shifts, cried Susannah:вБ†вАФвАЩTis better, said Slop, with a nod, than no shift at all, young woman;вБ†вЄЇвБ†I defy you, Sir, cried Susannah, pulling her shift sleeve below her elbow.
It was almost impossible for two persons to assist each other in a surgical case with a more splenetic cordiality.
Slop snatched up the cataplasm,вБ†вЄЇвБ†Susannah snatched up the candle;вБ†вЄЇвБ†a little this way, said Slop; Susannah looking one way, and rowing another, instantly set fire to SlopвАЩs wig, which being somewhat bushy and unctuous withal, was burnt out before it was well kindled.вБ†вЄїYou impudent whore! cried Slop,вБ†вАФ(for what is passion, but a wild beast?)вБ†вАФyou impudent whore, cried Slop, getting upright, with the cataplasm in his hand;вБ†вЄЇвБ†I never was the destruction of anybodyвАЩs nose, said Susannah,вБ†вАФwhich is more than you can say:вБ†вЄЇвБ†Is it? cried Slop, throwing the cataplasm in her face;вБ†вЄЇвБ†Yes, it is, cried Susannah, returning the compliment with what was left in the pan.