Dickens's Christmas Books - complete online versions

The Christmas Carol, The Chimes, Cricket On the Hearth, Battle Of Life
& The Haunted Man & the Ghosts's Bargain with Illustrations.

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THE BATTLE OF LIFE.                                  291
burst, a shower of harmless little sparks, and in its exultation leaped and bounded, like a mad thing, up the broad old chimney.
Another dance was near its close, when Mr. Snitchey touched his partner, who was looking on, upon the arm.
Mr. Craggs started, as if his familiar had been a spectre.
" Is he gone ?" he asked.
" Hush! He has been with me," said Snitchey, " for three hours and more. He went over everything. He looked into all our arrangements for him, and was very particular indeed. He— Humph !"
The dance was finished. Marion passed close before him, as he spoke. She did not observe him, or his partner; but looked over her shoulder towards her sister in the distance, as she slowly made her way into the crowd, and passed out of their view.
'? You see ! All safe and well," said Mr. Craggs. " He didn't recur to that subject, I suppose %"
" Not a word."
" And is he really gone ? Is he safe away ?"
" He keeps to his word. He drops down the river with the tide in that shell of a boat of his, and so goes out to sea on this dark night—a dare-devil he is—before the wind. There's no such lonely road anywhere else. That's one thing. The tide flows, he says, an hour before midnight about this time. I'm glad it's over." Mr. Snitchey wiped his forehead, which looked hot and anxious.
"What do you think," said Mr. Craggs, " about------"
" Hush !" replied his cautious partner, looking straight before him. " I understand you. Don't mention names, and don't let us seem to be talking secrets. I don't know what to think; and to tell you the truth, I don't care now. It's a great relief. His self-love deceived him, I suppose. Perhaps the young lady coquetted a little. The evidence would seem to point that way. Alfred not arrived %"
"Not yet," said Mr. Craggs. "Expected every minute."
" Good." Mr. Snitchey wiped his forehead again. " It's a great relief. I haven't been so nervous since we've been in partnership. I intend to spend the evening now, Mr. Craggs."
Mrs. Craggs and Mrs. Snitchey joined them as he announced this intention. The Bird of Paradise was in a state of extreme vibration; and the little bells were ringing quite audibly.
"It has been the theme of general comment, Mr. Snitchey," said Mrs. Snitchey. " I hope the office is satisfied."
" Satisfied with what, my dear ?" asked Mr. Snitchey.
"With the exposure of a defenceless woman to ridicule and
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