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THE BATTLE OF LIFE. |
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trembled as if the Bird of Paradise were alive again, when she said that doubtless Mr. Craggs knew. She was never told.
"That nasty office," said Mrs. Craggs.
"I wish it was burnt down," said Mrs. Snitchey.
" He's—he's—there's a little matter of business that keeps my partner rather late," said Mr. Craggs, looking uneasily about him.
"Oh—h ! Business. Don't tell me !" said Mrs. Snitchey.
" We know what business means," said Mrs. Craggs.
But their not knowing what it meant, was perhaps the reason why Mrs. Snitchey's Bird of Paradise feather quivered so portentously, and all the pendant bits on Mrs. Craggs's ear-rings shook like little bells.
" I wonder you could come away, Mr. Craggs," said his wife.
" Mr. Craggs is fortunate, I'm sure !" said Mrs. Snitchey.
"That office so engrosses 'em," said Mrs. Craggs.
" A person with an office has no business to be married at all," said Mrs. Snitchey.
Then, Mrs. Snitchey said, within herself, that that look of hers had pierced to Craggs's soul, and he knew it: and Mrs. Craggs observed, to Craggs, that "his Snitcheys" were deceiving him behind his back, and he would find it out when it was too late.
Still, Mr. Craggs, without much heeding these remarks, looked uneasily about him until his eye rested on Grace, to whom he immediately presented himself.
"Good evening, Ma'am," said Craggs. "You look charmingly. Your—Miss—your sister, Miss Marion, is she------"
"Oh she's quite well, Mr. Craggs."
" Yes—I—is she here ?" asked Craggs.
" Here ! Don't you see her yonder ? Going to dance ?" said Grace.
Mr. Craggs put on his spectacles to see the better ; looked at her through them, for some time; coughed; and put them, with an air of satisfaction, in their sheath again, and in his pocket.
Now the music struck up, and the dance commenced. The bright fire crackled and sparkled, rose and fell, as though it joined the dance itself, in right good fellowship. Sometimes it roared as if it would make music too. Sometimes it flashed and beamed as if it were the eye of the old room : it winked too, sometimes, like a knowing patriarch, upon the youthful whisperers in corners. Sometimes it sported with the holly-boughs ; and, shining on the leaves by fits and starts, made them look as if they were in the cold winter night again, and fluttering in the wind. Sometimes its genial humour grew obstreperous, and passed all bounds; and then it cast into the room, among the twinkling feet, with a loud |
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