When the cataplasm was ready, a scruple of _decorum_ had unseasonably rose up in _Susannah's_ conscience about holding the candle, whilst _Slop_ tied it on; _Slop_ had not treated _Susannah's_ distemper with anodynes, --and so a quarrel had ensued betwixt them.
----Oh! oh! ----said _Slop_, casting a glance of undue freedom in _Susannah's_ face, as she declined the office; ----then, I think I know you, madam ----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, ----you know me! cried _Susannah_ again. ----Doctor _Slop_ clapped his finger and his thumb instantly upon his nostrils; ----_Susannah's_ spleen was ready to burst at it; ----'Tis false, said _Susannah_. --Come, come, Mrs. Modesty, said _Slop_, not a little elated with the success of his last thrust, ----If you won't hold the candle, and look--you may hold it and shut your eyes: --That's one of your popish shifts, cried _Susannah_: --'Tis better, said _Slop_, with a nod, than no shift at all, young woman; ----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, ----_Susannah_ snatched up the candle; ----a little this way, said _Slop_; _Susannah_ looking one way, and rowing another, instantly set fire to _Slop's_ wig, which being somewhat bushy and unctuous withal, was burnt out before it was well kindled. ------You impudent whore! cried _Slop_, --(for what is passion, but a wild beast?)--you impudent whore, cried _Slop_, getting upright, with the cataplasm in his hand; ----I never was the destruction of anybody's nose, said _Susannah_, --which is more than you can say: ----Is it? cried _Slop_, throwing the cataplasm in her face; ----Yes, it is, cried _Susannah_, returning the compliment with what was left in the pan.
When Dr Slop's cataplasm, or poultice, was ready, an untimely scruple of decorum made Susannah refuse to hold the candle, whilst Slop put the cataplasm on. Slop had not given Susannah any pain relief for her distemper, and so a quarrel had strung up betwixt them.
'Oh!' said Slop, casting a glance at Susannah; 'then, I think I know you, madam.'
'You know me, Sir!' cried Susannah fastidiously, with a toss of her head.
Doctor Slop clapped his finger and his thumb instantly upon his nostrils.
Susannah was ready to burst with anger. ''Tis false,' she said.
'Come, come, Mrs. Modesty,' said Slop, somewhat elated with his success, 'if you won't hold the candle and look - hold it and shut your eyes.'
'That's one of your popish shifts,' cried Susannah.
''Tis better,' said Slop, 'than no shift at all, young woman.'
'I defy you, Sir,' cried Susannah, pulling her shift sleeve into sight below her elbow.
It was almost impossible for two persons to assist each other in a surgical case with more bad-tempered cordiality.
Slop snatched up the cataplasm; Susannah snatched up the candle.
'This way,' said Slop. Susannah, looking one way, and moving another, instantly set fire to Slop's wig, which being somewhat bushy and greasy, burnt out before it was well kindled.
'You impudent whore!' cried Slop, straightening up with the cataplasm in his hand.
'I never destroyed anybody's nose,' said Susannah, 'which is more than you can say!'
'Is it?' cried Slop, throwing the cataplasm in her face.
'Yes, it is,' cried Susannah, returning the compliment with what was left in the pan.
Book 6 - Chapter 3