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after hugging her to his breast； set her gently down upon the floor。
Poor Dolly！ Do what she would； she only looked the better for it；
and tempted them the more。 When her eyes flashed angrily； and
her ripe lips slightly parted； to give her rapid breathing vent； who
could resist it？ When she wept and sobbed as though her heart
would break； and bemoaned her miseries in the sweetest voice
that ever fell upon a listener’s ear； who could be insensible to the
little winning pettishness which now and then displayed itself；
even in the sincerity and earnestness of her grief？ When； forgetful
for a moment of herself； as she was now； she fell on her knees
beside her friend； and bent over her； and laid her cheek to hers；
and put her arms about her； what mortal eyes could have avoided
wandering to the delicate bodice； the streaming hair； the neglected
dress； the perfect abandonment and unconsciousness of the
blooming little beauty？ Who could look on and see her lavish
caresses and endearments； and not desire to be in Emma
Haredale’s place； to be either her or Dolly； either the hugging or
the hugged？ Not Hugh。 Not Dennis。
‘I tell you what it is； young women；’ said Mr Dennis； ‘I an’t
much of a lady’s man myself； nor am I a party in the present
business further than lending a willing hand to my friends： but if I
see much more of this here sort of thing； I shall become a principal
instead of a accessory。 I tell you candid。’
‘Why have you brought us here？’ said Emma。 ‘Are we to be
murdered？’
‘Murdered！’ cried Dennis； sitting down upon a stool； and
regarding her with great favour。 ‘Why； my dear； who’d murder
sich chickabiddies as you？ If you was to ask me； now； whether you
was brought here to be married； there might be something in it。’
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And here he exchanged a grin with Hugh； who removed his
eyes from Dolly for the purpose。
‘No； no；’ said Dennis； ‘there’ll be no murdering； my pets。
Nothing of that sort。 Quite the contrairy。’
‘You are an older man than your companion； sir；’ said Emma；
trembling。 ‘Have you no pity for us？ Do you not consider that we
are women？’
‘I do indeed； my dear；’ retorted Dennis。 ‘It would be very hard
not to； with two such specimens afore my eyes。 Ha ha！ Oh yes； I
consider that。 We all consider that； miss。’
He shook his head waggishly； leered at Hugh again； and
laughed very much； as if he had said a noble thing； and rather
thought he was coming out。
‘There’ll be no murdering； my dear。 Not a bit on it。 I tell you
what though； brother；’ said Dennis； cocking his hat for the
convenience of scratching his head； and looking gravely at Hugh；
‘it’s worthy of notice； as a proof of the amazing equalness and
dignity of our law； that it don’t make no distinction between men
and women。 I’ve heerd the judge say； sometimes； to a highwayman
or housebreaker as had tied the ladies neck and heels—you’ll
excuse me making mention of it； my darlings—and put ’em in a
cellar； that he showed no consideration to women。 Now； I say that
there judge didn’t know his business； brother； and that if I had
been that there highwayman or housebreaker； I should have made
answer： “What are you a talking of； my lord？ I showed the women
as much consideration as the law does； and what more would you
have me do？” If you was to count up in the newspapers the
number of females as have been worked off in this here city alone；
in the last ten year；’ said Mr Dennis thoughtfully； ‘you’d be
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surprised at the total—quite amazed； you would。 There’s a
dignified and equal thing； a beautiful thing！ But we’ve no security
for its lasting。 Now that they’ve begun to favour these here
Papists； I shouldn’t wonder if they went and altered even that； one
of these days。 Upon my soul； I shouldn’t。’
The subject； perhaps from being of too exclusive and
professional a nature； failed to interest Hugh as much as his friend
had anticipated。 But he had no time to pursue it； for at this crisis
Mr Tappertit entered precipitately； at sight of whom Dolly uttered
a scream of joy； and fairly threw herself into his arms。
‘I knew it； I was sure of it！’ cried Dolly。 ‘My dear father’s at the
door。 Thank God； thank God！ Bless you； Sim。 Heaven bless you for
this！’
Simon Tappertit； who had at first implicitly believed that the
locksmith’s daughter； unable any longer to suppress her secret
passion for himself； was about to give it full vent in its intensity；
and to declare that she was his for ever； looked extremely foolish
when she said these words；—the more so； as they were received
by Hugh and Dennis with a loud laugh； which made her draw
back； and regard him with a fixed and earnest look。
‘Miss Haredale；’ said Sim； after a very awkward silence； ‘I hope
you’re as comfortable as circumstances will permit of。 Dolly
Varden； my darling—my own； my lovely one—I hope you’re pretty
comfortable likewise。’
Poor little Dolly！ She saw how it was； hid her face in her hands；
and sobbed more bitterly than ever。
‘You meet in me； Miss V。；’ said Simon； laying his hand upon his
breast； ‘not a ’prentice； not a workman； not a slave； not the wictim
of your father’s tyrannical behaviour； but the leader of a great
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people； the captain of a noble band； in which these gentlemen are；
as I may say； corporals and serjeants。 You behold in me； not a
private individual； but a public character； not a mender of locks；
but a healer of the wounds of his unhappy country。 Dolly V。； sweet
Dolly V。； for how many years have I looked forward to this present
meeting！ For how many years has it been my intention to exalt
and ennoble you！ I redeem it。 Behold in me； your husband。 Yes；
beautiful Dolly—charmer—enslaver—S。 Tappertit is all your own！’
As he said these words he advanced towards her。 Dolly
retreated till she could go no farther； and then sank down upon
the floor。 Thinking it very possible that this might be maiden
modesty； Simon essayed to raise her； on which Dolly； goaded to
desperation； wound her hands in his hair； and crying out amidst
her tears that he was a dreadful little wretch； and always had
been； shook； and pulled； and beat him； until he was fain to call for
help； most lustily。 Hugh had never admired her half so much as at
that moment。
‘She’s in an excited state to…night；’ said Simon； as he smoothed
his rumpled feathers； ‘and don’t know when she’s well off。 Let her
be by herself till to…morrow； and that’ll bring her down a little。
Carry her into the next house！’
Hugh had her in his arms directly。 It might be that Mr
Tappertit’s heart was really softened by her distress； or it might be
that he felt it in some degree indecorous that his intended bride
should be struggling in the grasp of another man。 He commanded
him； on second thoughts； to put her down again； and looked
moodily on as she flew to Miss Haredale’s side； and clinging to her
dress； hid her flushed face in its folds。
‘They shall remain here together till to…morrow；’ said Simon；
Charles Dickens