"Yes, madam, I feel already the fire in my brain."
"Be calm."
"Calm—calm! Ha!—ha! Calm. It is all very well for you upon that side of the iron door to talk of calmness, madam, but upon this side the words sound strange."
"It will not sound so strange when I tell you that I have absolute compassion upon you, and that the cause of my present visit was to talk to you of some means by which the worst portion of your fate here might be in some measure ameliorated, and your existence rendered tolerable."
CHAPTER LXXIV.
BIG BEN CREATES A SENSATION.
The cook was so surprised at these words from Mrs. Lovett that for some moments he made no answer to them.
"Pray, speak again," he said at length, when he could find words in which to express himself.
"I repeat," she said, "that I am desirous, as far as lies in my power, to ameliorate your condition, of which you so much complain."
"Indeed!"
"Ah, you are too suspicious."