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How well she looked？ Well？ Why； if he had exhausted every
laudatory adjective in the dictionary； it wouldn’t have been praise
enough。 When and where was there ever such a plump； roguish；
comely； bright…eyed； enticing； bewitching； captivating； maddening
little puss in all this world； as Dolly！ What was the Dolly of five
years ago； to the Dolly of that day！ How many coachmakers；
saddlers； cabinet…makers； and professors of other useful arts； had
deserted their fathers； mothers； sisters； brothers； and； most of all；
their cousins； for the love of her！ How many unknown
gentlemen—supposed to be of mighty fortunes； if not titles—had
waited round the corner after dark； and tempted Miggs the
incorruptible； with golden guineas； to deliver offers of marriage
folded up in love…letters！ How many disconsolate fathers and
substantial tradesmen had waited on the locksmith for the same
purpose； with dismal tales of how their sons had lost their
appetites； and taken to shut themselves up in dark bedrooms； and
wandering in desolate suburbs with pale faces； and all because of
Dolly Varden’s loveliness and cruelty！ How many young men； in
all previous times of unprecedented steadiness； had turned
suddenly wild and wicked for the same reason； and； in an ecstasy
of unrequited love； taken to wrench off door…knockers； and invert
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the boxes of rheumatic watchmen！ How had she recruited the
king’s service； both by sea and land； through rendering desperate
his loving subjects between the ages of eighteen and twenty…five！
How many young ladies had publicly professed； with tears in their
eyes； that for their tastes she was much too short； too tall； too bold；
too cold； too stout； too thin； too fair； too dark—too everything but
handsome！ How many old ladies； taking counsel together； had
thanked Heaven their daughters were not like her； and had hoped
she might come to no harm； and had thought she would come to
no good； and had wondered what people saw in her； and had
arrived at the conclusion that she was ‘going off’ in her looks； or
had never come on in them； and that she was a thorough
imposition and a popular mistake！
And yet here was this same Dolly Varden； so whimsical and
hard to please that she was Dolly Varden still； all smiles and
dimples and pleasant looks； and caring no more for the fifty or
sixty young fellows who at that very moment were breaking their
hearts to marry her； than if so many oysters had been crossed in
love and opened afterwards。
Dolly hugged her father as has been already stated； and having
hugged her mother also； accompanied both into the little parlour
where the cloth was already laid for dinner； and where Miss
Miggs—a trifle more rigid and bony than of yore—received her
with a sort of hysterical gasp； intended for a smile。 Into the hands
of that young virgin； she delivered her bonnet and walking dress
（all of a dreadful； artful； and designing kind）； and then said with a
laugh； which rivalled the locksmith’s music； ‘How glad I always am
to be at home again！’
‘And how glad we always are； Doll；’ said her father； putting
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back the dark hair from her sparkling eyes； ‘to have you at home。
Give me a kiss。’
If there had been anybody of the male kind there to see her do
it—but there was not—it was a mercy。
‘I don’t like your being at the Warren；’ said the locksmith； ‘I
can’t bear to have you out of my sight。 And what is the news over
yonder； Doll？’
‘What news there is； I think you know already；’ replied his
daughter。 ‘I am sure you do though。’
‘Ay？’ cried the locksmith。 ‘What’s that？’
‘Come； come；’ said Dolly； ‘you know very well。 I want you to tell
me why Mr Haredale—oh； how gruff he is again； to be sure！—has
been away from home for some days past； and why he is travelling
about （we know he is travelling； because of his letters） without
telling his own niece why or wherefore。’
‘Miss Emma doesn’t want to know； I’ll swear；’ returned the
locksmith。
‘I don’t know that；’ said Dolly； ‘but I do； at any rate。 Do tell me。
Why is he so secret； and what is this ghost story； which nobody is
to tell Miss Emma； and which seems to be mixed up with his going
away？ Now I see you know by your colouring so。’
‘What the story means； or is； or has to do with it； I know no
more than you； my dear；’ returned the locksmith； ‘except that it’s
some foolish fear of little Solomon’s—which has； indeed； no
meaning in it； I suppose。 As to Mr Haredale’s journey； he goes； as I
believe—’
‘Yes；’ said Dolly。
‘As I believe；’ resumed the locksmith； pinching her cheek； ‘on
business； Doll。 What it may be； is quite another matter。 Read Blue
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Beard； and don’t be too curious； pet； it’s no business of yours or
mine； depend upon that； and here’s dinner； which is much more to
the purpose。’
Dolly might have remonstrated against this summary dismissal
of the subject； notwithstanding the appearance of dinner； but at
the mention of Blue Beard Mrs Varden interposed； protesting she
could not find it in her conscience to sit tamely by； and hear her
child recommended to peruse the adventures of a Turk and
Mussulman—far less of a fabulous Turk； which she considered
that potentate to be。 She held that； in such stirring and
tremendous times as those in which they lived； it would be much
more to the purpose if Dolly became a regular subscriber to the
Thunderer； where she would have an opportunity of reading Lord
George Gordon’s speeches word for word； which would be a
greater comfort and solace to her； than a hundred and fifty Blue
Beards ever could impart。 She appealed in support of this
proposition to Miss Miggs； then in waiting； who said that indeed
the peace of mind she had derived from the perusal of that paper
generally； but especially of one article of the very last week as ever
was； entitled ‘Great Britain drenched in gore；’ exceeded all belief；
the same composition； she added； had also wrought such a
comforting effect on the mind of a married sister of hers； then
resident at Golden Lion Court； number twenty…sivin； second bell…
handle on the right…hand door…post； that； being in a delicate state
of health； and in fact expecting an addition to her family； she had
been seized with fits directly after its perusal； and had raved of the
Inquisition ever since； to the great improvement of her husband
and friends。 Miss Miggs went on to say that she would recommend
all those whose hearts were hardened to hear Lord George
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themselves； whom she commended first； in respect of his steady
Protestantism； then of his oratory； then of his eyes； then of his
nose； then of his legs； and lastly of his figure generally； which she
looked upon as fit for any statue； prince； or angel； to which
sentiment Mrs Varden fully subscribed。
Mrs Varden having cut in； looked at a box upon the mantel…
shelf； painted in imitation of a very red…brick dwelling…house； with
a yellow roof； having at top a real chimney； down