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192 THE CRICKET ON THE HEARTH. |
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to keep her from suspecting how much, how very much, he every day denied himself, that she might be the happier.
" Bertha!" said Tackleton, assuming, for the nonce, a little cordiality. " Come here."
" Oh ! I can come straight to you ! You needn't guide me ! " she rejoined.
"Shall I tell you a secret, Bertha?"
" If you will ! " she answered, eagerly.
How bright the darkened face ! How adorned with light, the listening head !
"This is the day on which little what's-her-name, the spoilt child; Peerybingle's wife; pays her regular visit to you—makes her fantastic Pic-Nic here; an't it ?" said Tackleton, with a strong expression of distaste for the whole concern.
" Yes," replied Bertha. " This is the day."
"I thought so ! " said Tackleton. "I should like to join the party."
" Do you hear that, father!" cried the Blind Girl in an ecstasy.
" Yes, yes, I hear it," murmured Caleb, with the fixed look of a sleep-walker; "but I don't believe it. It's one of my lies, I've no doubt."
" You see I—I want to bring the Peerybingles a little more into company "with May Fielding," said Tackleton. " I am going to be married to May."
" Married !" cried the Blind Girl, starting from him.
" She's such a con-founded Idiot," muttered Tackleton, " that I was afraid she'd never comprehend me. Ah, Bertha ! Married ! Church, parson, clerk, beadle, glass-coach, bells, breakfast, bridecake, favours, marrow-bones, cleavers, and all the rest of the tomfoolery. A wedding, you know; a wedding. Don't you know what a wedding i: ?"
" I know,"replied the Blind Girl, in a gentle tone. "I understand !"
"Do you?" muttered Tackleton. "It's more than I expected. Well ! On that account I want to join the party, and to bring May and her mother. I'll send in a little something or other, before the afternoon. A cold leg of mutton, or some comfortable trifle of that sort. You'll expect me ?"
" Yes," she answered.
She had drooped her head, and turned away; and so stood, with her hands crossed, musing.
"I don't think you will," muttered Tackleton, looking at her; " for you seem to have forgotten all about it, already. Caleb ! " |
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