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employ me； I have satisfied myself that I can be of real use to him；
and I am going to carry my one arm away with him； and to make
the most of it。
In the mind’s eye of Mr Willet； the West Indies； and indeed all
foreign countries； were inhabited by savage nations； who were
perpetually burying pipes of peace； flourishing tomahawks； and
puncturing strange patterns in their bodies。 He no sooner heard
this announcement； therefore； than he leaned back in his chair；
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took his pipe from his lips； and stared at his son with as much
dismay as if he already beheld him tied to a stake； and tortured for
the entertainment of a lively population。 In what form of
expression his feelings would have found a vent； it is impossible to
say。 Nor is it necessary： for； before a syllable occurred to him；
Dolly Varden came running into the room； in tears； threw herself
on Joe’s breast without a word of explanation； and clasped her
white arms round his neck。
‘Dolly！’ cried Joe。 ‘Dolly！’
‘Ay； call me that； call me that always；’ exclaimed the locksmith’s
little daughter； ‘never speak coldly to me； never be distant； never
again reprove me for the follies I have long repented； or I shall die；
Joe。’
‘I reprove you！’ said Joe。
‘Yes—for every kind and honest word you uttered； went to my
heart。 For you； who have borne so much from me—for you； who
owe your sufferings and pain to my caprice—for you to be so
kind—so noble to me； Joe—’
He could say nothing to her。 Not a syllable。 There was an odd
sort of eloquence in his one arm； which had crept round her waist：
but his lips were mute。
‘If you had reminded me by a word—only by one short word；’
sobbed Dolly； clinging yet closer to him； ‘how little I deserved that
you should treat me with so much forbearance； if you had exulted
only for one moment in your triumph； I could have borne it better。’
‘Triumph！’ repeated Joe； with a smile which seemed to say； ‘I
am a pretty figure for that。’
‘Yes； triumph；’ she cried； with her whole heart and soul in her
earnest voice； and gushing tears； ‘for it is one。 I am glad to think
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and know it is。 I wouldn’t be less humbled； dear—I wouldn’t be
without the recollection of that last time we spoke together in this
place—no； not if I could recall the past； and make our parting；
yesterday。’
Did ever lover look as Joe looked now！
‘Dear Joe；’ said Dolly； ‘I always loved you—in my own heart I
always did； although I was so vain and giddy。 I hoped you would
come back that night。 I made quite sure you would。 I prayed for it
on my knees。 Through all these long； long years； I have never once
forgotten you； or left off hoping that this happy time might come。’
The eloquence of Joe’s arm surpassed the most impassioned
language； and so did that of his lips—yet he said nothing； either。
‘And now； at last；’ cried Dolly； trembling with the fervour of her
speech； ‘if you were sick； and shattered in your every limb； if you
were ailing； weak； and sorrowful； if； instead of being what you are；
you were in everybody’s eyes but mine the wreck and ruin of a
man； I would be your wife； dear love； with greater pride and joy；
than if you were the stateliest lord in England！’
‘What have I done；’ cried Joe； ‘what have I done to meet with
this reward？’
‘You have taught me；’ said Dolly； raising her pretty face to his；
‘to know myself； and your worth； to be something better than I
was； to be more deserving of your true and manly nature。 In years
to come； dear Joe； you shall find that you have done so； for I will
be； not only now； when we are young and full of hope； but when
we have grown old and weary； your patient； gentle； never…tiring
wife。 I will never know a wish or care beyond our home and you；
and I will always study how to please you with my best affection
and my most devoted love。 I will： indeed I will！’
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Joe could only repeat his former eloquence—but it was very
much to the purpose。
‘They know of this； at home；’ said Dolly。 ‘For your sake； I would
leave even them； but they know it； and are glad of it； and are as
proud of you as I am； and as full of gratitude。—You’ll not come
and see me as a poor friend who knew me when I was a girl； will
you； dear Joe？’
Well； well！ It don’t matter what Joe said in answer； but he said a
great deal； and Dolly said a great deal too： and he folded Dolly in
his one arm pretty tight； considering that it was but one； and Dolly
made no resistance： and if ever two people were happy in this
world—which is not an utterly miserable one； with all its faults—
we may； with some appearance of certainty； conclude that they
were。
To say that during these proceedings Mr Willet the elder
underwent the greatest emotions of astonishment of which our
common nature is susceptible—to say that he was in a perfect
paralysis of surprise； and that he wandered into the most
stupendous and theretofore unattainable heights of complicated
amazement—would be to shadow forth his state of mind in the
feeblest and lamest terms。 If a roc； an eagle； a griffin； a flying
elephant； a winged sea…horse； had suddenly appeared； and； taking
him on its back； carried him bodily into the heart of the
‘Salwanners；’ it would have been to him as an everyday
occurrence； in comparison with what he now beheld。 To be sitting
quietly by； seeing and hearing these things； to be completely
overlooked； unnoticed； and disregarded； while his son and a young
lady were talking to each other in the most impassioned manner；
kissing each other； and making themselves in all respects perfectly
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at home； was a position so tremendous； so inexplicable； so utterly
beyond the widest range of his capacity of comprehension； that he
fell into a lethargy of wonder； and could no more rouse himself
than an enchanted sleeper in the first year of his fairy lease； a
century long。
‘Father；’ said Joe； presenting Dolly。 ‘You know who this is？’
Mr Willet looked first at her； then at his son； then back again at
Dolly； and then made an ineffectual effort to extract a whiff from
his pipe； which had gone out long ago。
‘Say a word； father； if it’s only “how d’ye do；”’ urged Joe。
‘Certainly； Joseph；’ answered Mr Willet。 ‘Oh yes！ Why not？’
‘To be sure；’ said Joe。 ‘Why not？’
‘Ah！’ replied his father。 ‘Why not？’ and with this remark； which
he uttered in a low voice as though he were discussing some grave
question with himself； he used the little finger—if any of his
fingers can be said to have come under that denomination—of his
right hand as a tobacco…stopper； and was silent again。
And so he sat for half an hour at least； although Dolly； in the
most endearing of manners； hoped； a dozen times； that he was not
angry with her。 So he sat for half an hour； quite motionless； and
looking all the while like nothing so much as a great Dutch Pin or
Skittle。 At the expiration of that period； he suddenly； and without
the least notice； burst （to the great consternation of the young
people） into a very loud and very short laugh； and repeating；
‘Certainly； Joseph。 Oh yes！ Why not？’ went out for a walk。
Char