Dolly Varden"s pretty little head was yet bewildered by variousrecollections of the party, and her bright eyes were yet dazzled bya crowd of images, dancing before them like motes in the sunbeams,among which the effigy of one partner in particular did especiallyfigure, the same being a young coachmaker (a master in his ownright) who had given her to understand, when he handed her into thechair at parting, that it was his fixed resolve to neglect hisbusiness from that time, and die slowly for the love of her-Dolly"shead, and eyes, and thoughts, and seven senses, were all ina state of flutter and confusion for which the party wasaccountable, although it was now three days old, when, as she wassitting listlessly at breakfast, reading all manner of fortunes(that is to say, of married and flourishing fortunes) in thegrounds of her teacup, a step was heard in the workshop, and MrEdward Chester was descried through the glass door, standing amongthe rusty locks and keys, like love among the roses--for which aptcomparison the historian may by no means take any credit tohimself, the same being the invention, in a sentimental mood, ofthe chaste and modest Miggs, who, beholding him from the doorstepsshe was then cleaning, did, in her maiden meditation, giveutterance to the simile.
The locksmith, who happened at the moment to have his eyes thrownupward and his head backward, in an intense communing with Toby,did not see his visitor, until Mrs Varden, more watchful than therest, had desired Sim Tappertit to open the glass door and give himadmission--from which untoward circumstance the good lady argued(for she could deduce a precious moral from the most triflingevent) that to take a draught of small ale in the morning was toobserve a pernicious, irreligious, and Pagan custom, the relishwhereof should be left to swine, and Satan, or at least to Popishpersons, and should be shunned by the righteous as a work of sinand evil. She would no doubt have pursued her admonition muchfurther, and would have founded on it a long list of preciousprecepts of inestimable value, but that the young gentlemanstanding by in a somewhat uncomfortable and discomfited mannerwhile she read her spouse this lecture, occasioned her to bring itto a premature conclusion.
"I"m sure you"ll excuse me, sir," said Mrs Varden, rising andcurtseying. "Varden is so very thoughtless, and needs so muchreminding--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 betakinghimself to the workshop, began seriously to fear that he might findit necessary to poison his master, before his time was out.
In the meantime, Edward returned suitable replies to Mrs Varden"scourtesies, and that lady brightened up very much; so that when heaccepted a dish of tea from the fair hands of Dolly, she wasperfectly agreeable.
"I am sure if there"s anything we can do,--Varden, or I, or Dollyeither,--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. "Youencourage me to say that I have come here now, to beg your goodoffices."
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, glancingat Dolly; "and if so, and you will allow her to take charge of thisletter, ma"am, you will oblige me more than I can tell you. Thetruth is, that while I am very anxious it should reach itsdestination, I have particular reasons for not trusting it to anyother 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, norindeed all next week," the lady graciously rejoined, "but we shallbe very glad to put ourselves out of the way on your account, andif you wish it, you may depend upon its going to-day. You mightsuppose," said Mrs Varden, frowning at her husband, "from Varden"ssitting there so glum and silent, that he objected to thisarrangement; but you must not mind that, sir, if you please. It"shis way at home. Out of doors, he can be cheerful and talkativeenough."
Now, the fact was, that the unfortunate locksmith, blessing hisstars to find his helpmate in such good humour, had been sittingwith a beaming face, hearing this discourse with a joy past allexpression. Wherefore this sudden attack quite took him bysurprise.
"My dear Martha--" he said.
"Oh yes, I dare say," interrupted Mrs Varden, with a smile ofmingled scorn and pleasantry. "Very dear! We all know that."
"No, but my good soul," said Gabriel, "you are quite mistaken. Youare indeed. I was delighted to find you so kind and ready. Iwaited, my dear, anxiously, I assure you, to hear what you wouldsay."
"You waited anxiously," repeated Mrs V. "Yes! Thank you, Varden.
You waited, as you always do, that I might bear the blame, if anycame of it. But I am used to it," said the lady with a kind ofsolemn 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 aChristian smile, "that such discussions as these between marriedpeople, are much better left alone. Therefore, if you please,Varden, we"ll drop the subject. I have no wish to pursue it. Icould. I might say a great deal. But I would rather not. Praydon"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 hereyes very wide and looking round upon the company, as though shewould say, You hear this man! "You did not begin it, Varden! Butyou 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 Dollybegan it, my dear, I shall not contradict you. I know my duty. Ineed 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.