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196 THE CRICKET ON THE HEARTH.
"I am sorry for it, John," said Dot in a great bustle, "but I really could not think of going to Bertha's—I would not do it, John, on any account—without the Veal and Ham-Pie and things, and the bottles of Beer. Way ! "
This monosyllable was addressed to the horse, who didn't mind it at all.
" Oh do way John !" said Mrs. Peerybingle. " Please ! "
" It'll be time enough to do that," returned John, " when I begin to leave things behind me. The basket's here, safe enough."
" What a hard-hearted monster you must be, John, not to have said so, at once, and save me such a turn ! I declared I wouldn't go to Bertha's without the Veal and Ham-Pie and things, and the bottles of Beer, for any money. Regularly once a fortnight ever since we have been married, John, have we made our little Pic-Nic there. If anything was to go wrong with it, I should almost think we were never to be lucky again."
" It was a kind thought in the first instance," said the Carrier; "and I honour you for it, little woman."
" My dear John," replied Dot, turning very red. " Don't talk about honouring me. Good Gracious !"
" By the bye—" observed the Carrier. " That old gentleman,"—
Again so visibly, and instantly embarrassed.
" He's an odd fish," said the Carrier, looking straight along the road before them. u I can't make him out. I don't believe there's any harm in him."
"None at all. I'm—I'm sure there's none at all."
" Yes ?" said the Carrier, with his eyes attracted to her face by the great earnestness of her manner. "I am glad you feel so certain of it, because it's a confirmation to me. It's curious that he should have taken it into his head to ask leave to go on lodging with us ; an't it? Things come about so strangely."
" So very strangely," she rejoined in a low voice: scarcely audible.
"However, he's a good-natured old gentleman," said John, " and pays as a gentleman, and I think his word is to be relied upon, like a gentleman's. I had quite a long talk with him this morning : he can hear me better already, he says, as he gets more used to my voice. He told me a great deal about himself, and I told him a good deal about myself, and a rare lot of questions he asked me. I gave him information about my having two beats, you know, in my business; one day to the right from our house and back again; another day to the left from our house and back again (for he's a stranger and don't know the names of places about here); and he seemed quite pleased. ' Why, then I shall be |
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