登陆注册
5160500000029

第29章 Chirp the Third(9)

What I want most to tell you, I have kept to the last.My dear,good, generous John, when we were talking the other night about theCricket, I had it on my lips to say, that at first I did not loveyou quite so dearly as I do now; that when I first came home here,I was half afraid I mightn't learn to love you every bit as well asI hoped and prayed I might - being so very young, John! But, dearJohn, every day and hour I loved you more and more.And if I couldhave loved you better than I do, the noble words I heard you saythis morning, would have made me.But I can't.All the affectionthat I had (it was a great deal, John) I gave you, as you welldeserve, long, long ago, and I have no more left to give.Now, mydear husband, take me to your heart again! That's my home, John;and never, never think of sending me to any other!'

You never will derive so much delight from seeing a glorious littlewoman in the arms of a third party, as you would have felt if youhad seen Dot run into the Carrier's embrace.It was the mostcomplete, unmitigated, soul-fraught little piece of earnestnessthat ever you beheld in all your days.

You maybe sure the Carrier was in a state of perfect rapture; andyou may be sure Dot was likewise; and you may be sure they allwere, inclusive of Miss Slowboy, who wept copiously for joy, andwishing to include her young charge in the general interchange ofcongratulations, handed round the Baby to everybody in succession,as if it were something to drink.

But, now, the sound of wheels was heard again outside the door; andsomebody exclaimed that Gruff and Tackleton was coming back.

Speedily that worthy gentleman appeared, looking warm andflustered.

'Why, what the Devil's this, John Peerybingle!' said Tackleton.

'There's some mistake.I appointed Mrs.Tackleton to meet me atthe church, and I'll swear I passed her on the road, on her wayhere.Oh! here she is! I beg your pardon, sir; I haven't thepleasure of knowing you; but if you can do me the favour to sparethis young lady, she has rather a particular engagement thismorning.'

'But I can't spare her,' returned Edward.'I couldn't think ofit.'

'What do you mean, you vagabond?' said Tackleton.

'I mean, that as I can make allowance for your being vexed,'

returned the other, with a smile, 'I am as deaf to harsh discoursethis morning, as I was to all discourse last night.'

The look that Tackleton bestowed upon him, and the start he gave!

'I am sorry, sir,' said Edward, holding out May's left hand, andespecially the third finger; 'that the young lady can't accompanyyou to church; but as she has been there once, this morning,perhaps you'll excuse her.'

Tackleton looked hard at the third finger, and took a little pieceof silver-paper, apparently containing a ring, from his waistcoat-pocket.

'Miss Slowboy,' said Tackleton.'Will you have the kindness tothrow that in the fire? Thank'ee.'

'It was a previous engagement, quite an old engagement, thatprevented my wife from keeping her appointment with you, I assureyou,' said Edward.

'Mr.Tackleton will do me the justice to acknowledge that Irevealed it to him faithfully; and that I told him, many times, Inever could forget it,' said May, blushing.

'Oh certainly!' said Tackleton.'Oh to be sure.Oh it's allright.It's quite correct.Mrs.Edward Plummer, I infer?'

'That's the name,' returned the bridegroom.

'Ah, I shouldn't have known you, sir,' said Tackleton, scrutinisinghis face narrowly, and making a low bow.'I give you joy, sir!'

'Thank'ee.'

'Mrs.Peerybingle,' said Tackleton, turning suddenly to where shestood with her husband; 'I am sorry.You haven't done me a verygreat kindness, but, upon my life I am sorry.You are better thanI thought you.John Peerybingle, I am sorry.You understand me;that's enough.It's quite correct, ladies and gentlemen all, andperfectly satisfactory.Good morning!'

With these words he carried it off, and carried himself off too:

merely stopping at the door, to take the flowers and favours fromhis horse's head, and to kick that animal once, in the ribs, as ameans of informing him that there was a screw loose in hisarrangements.

Of course it became a serious duty now, to make such a day of it,as should mark these events for a high Feast and Festival in thePeerybingle Calendar for evermore.Accordingly, Dot went to workto produce such an entertainment, as should reflect undying honouron the house and on every one concerned; and in a very short spaceof time, she was up to her dimpled elbows in flour, and whiteningthe Carrier's coat, every time he came near her, by stopping him togive him a kiss.That good fellow washed the greens, and peeledthe turnips, and broke the plates, and upset iron pots full of coldwater on the fire, and made himself useful in all sorts of ways:

while a couple of professional assistants, hastily called in fromsomewhere in the neighbourhood, as on a point of life or death, ranagainst each other in all the doorways and round all the corners,and everybody tumbled over Tilly Slowboy and the Baby, everywhere.

Tilly never came out in such force before.Her ubiquity was thetheme of general admiration.She was a stumbling-block in thepassage at five-and-twenty minutes past two; a man-trap in thekitchen at half-past two precisely; and a pitfall in the garret atfive-and-twenty minutes to three.The Baby's head was, as it were,a test and touchstone for every description of matter, - animal,vegetable, and mineral.Nothing was in use that day that didn'tcome, at some time or other, into close acquaintance with it.

Then, there was a great Expedition set on foot to go and find outMrs.Fielding; and to be dismally penitent to that excellentgentlewoman; and to bring her back, by force, if needful, to behappy and forgiving.And when the Expedition first discovered her,she would listen to no terms at all, but said, an unspeakablenumber of times, that ever she should have lived to see the day!

同类推荐
  • The Man Between

    The Man Between

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • The Birds

    The Birds

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 太一救苦护身妙经

    太一救苦护身妙经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 唐虞门·再吟

    唐虞门·再吟

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 略授三归五八戒并菩萨戒

    略授三归五八戒并菩萨戒

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 九帝陛下的逃妻

    九帝陛下的逃妻

    “他”是人人敬而仰之的帝子,一人之下万人之上,嚣张自傲;她是21世纪古武世家继承者,坚持着自己的原则和规矩,放荡不羁;一朝风云,灵魂的改变,当来自现代古武家族第一天才少女踏入这个陌生的大陆,旷世传奇就此拉开序幕!★★★★★★★★★第五颜笙从未想过,这一世会对一个人如此心虚。“跟我回家。”看着对面男子温柔似水的表情,她不由咽口水。这真是接自己回家的节奏么,您老确定不是来抓我回去的?“哥,我未婚妻还在等我呢。”“父亲说了,这门婚事取消。”“我能不回去么?”“来人,打断她的腿,带帝子殿下回宫。”★★★★★★★★★第五颜笙从未想过,有人会把自己当公主一样宠着。哥哥:“希望你所看见的世界,过目皆是温柔与光。”弟弟:“为了见到你,我真的已经用尽全力,可不可以不要再丢下我。”宫御:“你还想要什么,我都给你呀。”尽执夏:“别担心,我一直都在。”风七七:“原来一切早已注定,不要放弃拥抱我。”★★★★★★★★★小剧场之一:她独自傲然屹立在擂台之上,风华绰约,慵懒之音传遍整个广场:“没人上来我就回去睡觉了。”某某愤青:“你...你胜之不武。”胜之不武?某女微微思忖,道:“嗯,的确是呢,还没动武就胜了,没意思。”小剧场之二:第五颜笙咬牙切齿地瞪着某个一派君子风度之某男:“你还要不要脸?手搁哪呢!”某男无辜,温润淡定:“是你说要和我同享福的。”第五颜笙怒:“滚!老子不是断袖!”某男矜贵优雅,语气悠悠:“乖,我教你。”★★★★★★★★★“真的决定了吗?”“决定了,他在等我啊。”她轻勾了嘴角,瞬间风华,惑乱众生。她被缚,被囚,无数个日夜。他大婚当日,她终于是找见了他。那是颜笙第一次在凉锦面前穿女装的模样。一袭红纱,倾一世繁华,绝世风姿。她望着他,绝美一笑,眼角一颗朱红滑落。“你没事,真好。”她轻轻抱着他,只说了这一句话。★★★★★★★★★男女主身心干净,没有任何第三者插足,中间小虐,过程温暖欢脱,结局美满。女强男强,强强联手,打死小强。强力宠文,一生一世一双人!五星级坑品保证,绝不弃坑,就等你来!
  • 全职高手之荣耀盛世

    全职高手之荣耀盛世

    那是十年之前……那一年,南山依旧温暖如春。那一年,叶修手中已无烟蒂。那一年,荣耀才刚刚开启,精彩才刚刚呈现!一切的一切,从一位远在地球时空郁郁不得志的天才少年开始!迥然不同的技能搭配,原汁原味的比赛规则,天马行空的清奇战术,性格各异的游戏天才,精彩纷呈的荣耀盛世!这些,又会迸发出怎样的火花?天余谪仙,乃下凡尘。御剑天地间,摘星日月中。——赵天星。创世之神话,荣耀之巅峰。即刻扬帆,破浪乘风!欢迎加入本书书友群,群号:866802445。
  • 他给的梦幻天堂

    他给的梦幻天堂

    我永远记得那年,他双手怀胸,居高临下的望着我说:“伊一,你还知道回家?!”虽然语气很差,但是我却能感觉到他的担心,他强装冷静的面容。这些都使我映像深刻,无法忘怀!“艾熙然,遇到你到底是我的有幸还是不幸?”“艾熙然,我舍不得从来没有遇到过你?”
  • 中医养脾胃速查手册

    中医养脾胃速查手册

    中医学认为,脾胃为后天之本,是人体气血生化之源。如果一个人的脾胃不好,气血生成就会不足,身体各个器官就得不到正常的滋养,而出现“枯萎”现象,接着就会百病滋生。《中医养脾胃速查手册》从体质、饮食、经络、运动、日常细节等方面,详细阐述了养脾胃的各种方案,以及常见脾胃病的对症防治与调养方法。三分治,七分养,养好脾胃身体才健康。一书在手,养生保健,健康无忧。
  • 美人执琪

    美人执琪

    她是出身于二十一世纪武术世家的国民影后,一朝车祸,香消玉殒,当她再次睁眼竟然成为了南朝夏王府的嫡女夏天音从出生开始就被皇帝赐婚给太子,不想嫁怎么办?顶着太子妃的头衔装纨绔外加扮猪吃老虎。正当她玩的不亦乐乎的时候,偏偏有人来搅她的局,偏偏此人是华盖满天下的云世子,外表温润如玉,温文尔雅,内心实则是腹黑冷酷,睚眦必报,惹不起我还躲不起了?
  • 影响中国学生的经典成语故事之二

    影响中国学生的经典成语故事之二

    成语是语言中经过长期使用、锤炼而形成的固定短语,它是比词的含义更丰富而语法功能又相当于词的语言单位,而且富有深刻的思想内涵,简短精辟易记易用。并常常附带有感情色彩,包括贬义和褒义,当然,也有中性的。“影响中国学生的经典成语故事”汇集了众多的成语,详细地讲解了其释义及相关出处,使读者在增长知识的基础上、享受阅读带来的乐趣。
  • 大生意人1

    大生意人1

    一百五十余年前,帝国的政治时局正值风雨飘摇,商业却开始一步步走向繁盛的顶峰,一批中国历史上著名的大生意人纷纷登场。在这群夺目的商业精英间,最天才、最具传奇色彩的,却是个名不见经传的名字:古平原。从贩卖一袋私盐做起,短短数十年里,借势谋局,翻云覆雨,周旋于商帮、政府、买办及三教九流之间,将生意越做越大,直至最后纵横各行各业,通吃政商两界,成为财倾天下的一代首富。翻开《大生意人》,从他的这套“玩法”中,读懂在中国传统政商关系下做生意的至高智慧和隐秘准则。
  • 前夫的小院

    前夫的小院

    山连着山,暗红色的石头山,七高八低毫无规则叠挤在一起,连绵不断;淡黄色的土山坡上杂草茂盛,野酸枣互相牵扯着勾挂着,叫不来名字的结有果实的各种七高八低的灌木,大多数扎根在石头缝缝里,极难采摘。夏天,长满大片野花和荆条的阳坡坡上,远看去青一块红一块、蓝一块紫一块,说不清是什么图案。秋天里的沙棘漫山遍野,像金灿灿的黄飘带,自由落洒,颇为壮观。冬天雪后,白茫茫的一望无际,土山、石头山混为一体,肃静威严像条卧龙在休眠。山际把天和地分成两半,弯弯曲曲的那根连线画不出它的头在哪起源、尾在哪结束。
  • 球王之王

    球王之王

    马拉多纳还是贝利?梅西还是C罗?球王?别争了。丁悦就是唯一的答案。这是一个扶摇直上的故事,这也是一个酸甜苦辣的故事。
  • 遥远海域

    遥远海域

    从未公开的二战绝密档案,中国战俘在南太平洋的诡秘经历;首次破解二战最大谜团,揭秘德日在南太平洋的“末日计划”;遥远海域匪夷所思的秘境;诡岛禁地令人窒息的秘密;神秘光球、幽灵信号、远古石碟、地下神庙、生化基地、水下索道、镜像空间、纳粹飞碟......