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THE CRICKET ON THE HEARTH. 189 |
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invented and pursued for bread, become very serious matters of fact; and, apart from this consideration, I am not at all prepared to say, myself, that if Caleb had been a Lord Chamberlaiu, or a Member of Parliament, or a lawyer, or even a great speculator, he would have dealt in toys one whit less whimsical ; while I have a very great doubt whether they would have been as harmless.
" So you were out in the rain last night, father, in your beautiful, new, great-coat," said Caleb's daughter.
"In my beautiful new great-coat," answered Caleb, glancing towards a clothes-line in the room, on which the sack-cloth garment previously described, was carefully hung up to dry.
" How glad I am you bought it, father !"
" And of such a tailor, too," said Caleb. " Quite a fashionable tailor. It's too good for me."
The Blind Girl rested from her work, and laughed with delight, " Too good, father ! What can be too good for you ?"
" I'm half ashamed to wear it though," said Caleb, watching the effect of what he said, upon her brightening face; " upon my word. When I hear the boys and people say behind me, ' Halloa! Here's a swell!' I don't know which way to look. And when the beggar wouldn't go away last night; and, when I said I was a very common man, said ' No, your Honour ! Bless your Honour, don't say that!' I was quite ashamed. I really felt as if I hadn't a right to wear it."
Happy Blind Girl! How merry she was, in her exultation !
" I see you, father," she said, clasping her hands, " as plainly, as if I had the eyes I never want when you are with me. A blue coat------"
" Bright blue," said Caleb.
"Yes, yes ! Bright blue !" exclaimed the girl, turning up her radiant face ; " the colour I can just remember in the blessed sky ! You told me it was blue before ! A bright blue coat-------"
" Made loose to the figure," suggested Caleb.
" Yes ! Loose to the figure ! " cried the Blind Girl, laughing heartily ; "and in it you, dear father, with your merry eye, your smiliug face, your free step, and your dark hair : looking so young and handsome !"
" Halloa ! Halloa ! " said Caleb. " I shall be vain, presently."
"I think you are, already," cried the Blind Girl, pointing at him, in her glee. " I know you, father ! Ha ha ha ! I've found you out, you see !"
How different the picture in her mind, from Caleb, as he sat observing her ! She had spoken of his free step. She was right in that. For years and years, he never once had crossed that |
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