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marked； and as if his curiosity were strongly awakened； and he
had already some inkling of his mystery； he sat watching him； if
the expression may be used； and listening； until it was broad day。
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Chapter 19
olly Varden’s pretty little head was yet bewildered by
various recollections of the party； and her bright eyes
D
were yet dazzled by a crowd of images； dancing before
them like motes in the sunbeams； among which the effigy of one
partner in particular did especially figure； the same being a young
coachmaker （a master in his own right） who had given her to
understand； when he handed her into the chair at parting； that it
was his fixed resolve to neglect his business from that time； and
die slowly for the love of her—Dolly’s head； and eyes； and
thoughts； and seven senses； were all in a state of flutter and
confusion for which the party was accountable； although it was
now three days old； when； as she was sitting listlessly at breakfast；
reading all manner of fortunes （that is to say； of married and
flourishing fortunes） in the grounds of her teacup； a step was
heard in the workshop； and Mr Edward Chester was descried
through the glass door； standing among the rusty locks and keys；
like love among the roses—for which apt comparison the historian
may by no means take any credit to himself； the same being the
invention； in a sentimental mood； of the chaste and modest Miggs；
who； beholding him from the doorsteps she was then cleaning； did；
in her maiden meditation； give utterance to the simile。
The locksmith； who happened at the moment to have his eyes
thrown upward and his head backward； in an intense communing
with Toby； did not see his visitor； until Mrs Varden； more watchful
than the rest； had desired Sim Tappertit to open the glass door
and give him admission—from which untoward circumstance the
good lady argued （for she could deduce a precious moral from the
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most trifling event） that to take a draught of small ale in the
morning was to observe a pernicious； irreligious； and Pagan
custom； the relish whereof should be left to swine； and Satan； or at
least to Popish persons； and should be shunned by the righteous
as a work of sin and evil。 She would no doubt have pursued her
admonition much further； and would have founded on it a long list
of precious precepts of inestimable value； but that the young
gentleman standing by in a somewhat uncomfortable and
discomfited manner while she read her spouse this lecture；
occasioned her to bring it to a premature conclusion。
‘I’m sure you’ll excuse me； sir；’ said Mrs Varden； rising and
curtseying。 ‘Varden is so very thoughtless； and needs so much
reminding—Sim； bring a chair here。’
Mr Tappertit obeyed； with a flourish implying that he did so；
under protest。
‘And you can go； Sim；’ said the locksmith。
Mr Tappertit obeyed again； still under protest； and betaking
himself to the workshop； began seriously to fear that he might find
it necessary to poison his master； before his time was out。
In the meantime； Edward returned suitable replies to Mrs
Varden’s courtesies； and that lady brightened up very much； so
that when he accepted a dish of tea from the fair hands of Dolly；
she was perfectly agreeable。
‘I am sure if there’s anything we can do；—Varden； or I； or Dolly
either；—to serve you； sir； at any time； you have only to say it； and
it shall be done；’ said Mrs V。
‘I am much obliged to you； I am sure；’ returned Edward。 ‘You
encourage me to say that I have come here now； to beg your good
offices。’
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Mrs Varden was delighted beyond measure。
‘It occurred to me that probably your fair daughter might be
going to the Warren； either to…day or to…morrow；’ said Edward；
glancing at Dolly； ‘and if so； and you will allow her to take charge
of this letter； ma’am； you will oblige me more than I can tell you。
The truth is； that while I am very anxious it should reach its
destination； I have particular reasons for not trusting it to any
other conveyance； so that without your help； I am wholly at a loss。’
‘She was not going that way； sir； either to…day； or to…morrow；
nor indeed all next week；’ the lady graciously rejoined； ‘but we
shall be very glad to put ourselves out of the way on your account；
and if you wish it； you may depend upon its going to…day。 You
might suppose；’ said Mrs Varden； frowning at her husband； ‘from
Varden’s sitting there so glum and silent； that he objected to this
arrangement； but you must not mind that； sir； if you please。 It’s his
way at home。 Out of doors； he can be cheerful and talkative
enough。’
Now； the fact was； that the unfortunate locksmith； blessing his
stars to find his helpmate in such good humour； had been sitting
with a beaming face； hearing this discourse with a joy past all
expression。 Wherefore this sudden attack quite took him by
surprise。
‘My dear Martha—’ he said。
‘Oh yes； I dare say；’ interrupted Mrs Varden； with a smile of
mingled scorn and pleasantry。 ‘Very dear！ We all know that。’
‘No； but my good soul；’ said Gabriel； ‘you are quite mistaken。
You are indeed。 I was delighted to find you so kind and ready。 I
waited； my dear； anxiously； I assure you； to hear what you would
say。’
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‘You waited anxiously；’ repeated Mrs V。 ‘Yes！ Thank you；
Varden。 You waited； as you always do； that I might bear the blame；
if any came of it。 But I am used to it；’ said the lady with a kind of
solemn titter； ‘and that’s my comfort！’
‘I give you my word； Martha—’ said Gabriel。
‘Let me give you my word； my dear；’ interposed his wife with a
Christian smile； ‘that such discussions as these between married
people； are much better left alone。 Therefore； if you please；
Varden； we’ll drop the subject。 I have no wish to pursue it。 I could。
I might say a great deal。 But I would rather not。 Pray don’t say any
more。’
‘I don’t want to say any more；’ rejoined the goaded locksmith。
‘Well then； don’t；’ said Mrs Varden。 ‘Nor did I begin it； Martha；’
added the locksmith； good…humouredly； ‘I must say that。’
‘You did not begin it； Varden！’ exclaimed his wife； opening her
eyes very wide and looking round upon the company； as though
she would say； You hear this man！ ‘You did not begin it； Varden！
But you shall not say I was out of temper。 No； you did not begin it；
oh dear no； not you； my dear！’
‘Well； well；’ said the locksmith。 ‘That’s settled then。’
‘Oh yes；’ rejoined his wife； ‘quite。 If you like to say Dolly began
it； my dear； I shall not contradict you。 I know my duty。 I need
know it； I am sure。 I am often obliged to bear it in mind； when my
inclination perhaps would be for the moment to forget it。 Thank
you； Varden。’ And so； with a mighty show of humility and
forgiveness； she folded her hands； and looked round again； with a
smile which plainly said； ‘If you desire to see the first and foremost
among female martyrs； here she is； on view！’