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Updated: May 25, 2025
It stuck to the premises of Gruff and Tackleton, like a barnacle to a ship's keel, or a snail to a door, or a little bunch of toadstools to the stem of a tree.
'Look at my sober plodding husband there, returned Dot. 'He adds twenty years to my age at least. Don't you, John? 'Forty, John replied. 'How many YOU'll add to May's, I am sure I don't know, said Dot, laughing. 'But she can't be much less than a hundred years of age on her next birthday. 'Ha ha! laughed Tackleton. Hollow as a drum, that laugh though.
"Every man thinks his own geese swans," observed the toy merchant with a shrug. "Poor devil!" Having delivered himself of which remark with infinite contempt, old Gruff and Tackleton withdrew. Bertha remained where he had left her, lost in meditation. The gaiety had vanished from her downcast face, and it was very sad.
Tackleton she said, That he was in a moral point of view an undeniable individual, and That he was in an eligible point of view a son-in-law to be desired, no one in their senses could doubt.
Little woman, how she sobbed again! John Peerybingle would have caught her in his arms. But no; she wouldn't let him. "Don't love me yet, please, John! Not for a long time yet! When I was sad about this intended marriage, dear, it was because I remembered May and Edward such young lovers; and knew that her heart was far away from Tackleton. You believe that, now, don't you, John?"
Not a gleam! The Blind Girl took his hand and kissed it; held it for a moment in her own two hands; and laid her cheek against it tenderly, before releasing it. There was such unspeakable affection and such fervent gratitude in the act, that Tackleton himself was moved to say, in a milder growl than usual: 'What's the matter now?
Yet Caleb knew that with his own hands he had brought the little rose-tree home for her so carefully, and that with his own lips he had forged the innocent deception which should help to keep her from suspecting how much, how very much, he every day denied himself, that she might be happier. "Bertha!" said Tackleton, assuming, for the nonce, a little cordiality. "Come here."
But, now, the sound of wheels was heard again outside the door; and somebody exclaimed that Gruff and Tackleton was coming back. Speedily that worthy gentleman appeared, looking warm and flustered. 'Why, what the Devil's this, John Peerybingle! said Tackleton. 'There's some mistake. I appointed Mrs. Tackleton to meet me at the church, and I'll swear I passed her on the road, on her way here.
Tackleton the Toy merchant, pretty generally known as Gruff and Tackleton for that was the firm, though Gruff had been bought out long ago; only leaving his name, and, as some said, his nature, according to its Dictionary meaning, in the business Tackleton the Toy merchant was a man whose vocation had been quite misunderstood by his Parents and Guardians.
After the delivery of which expressions, he retired again. The whole party would have experienced great difficulty in finding words for their astonishment, even if they had had ample time to seek them. But they had none at all; for the messenger had scarcely shut the door behind him, when there came another tap, and Tackleton himself walked in. "Mrs.
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