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,’ I MARTIN‘ OHUZZLEWIT. I 1043;
V said Mr. Pecksniff, “that we should enter. by the back
way, and come upon them. like it clap of thunder, Mr.
Jonas.”- g ‘-' 1'.
It might not have been easy, to decide in; respect of
' which of their manifold properties, Jonas, Mr. Pecksniff,
the carpet-bag, and tl1e portmanteau, could be likened
to a clap of thunder. But Mr. Jonas giving his assent to
this proposaljtliey stole round into the backyard, and
softly advanced: towards the kitchen window, through
which the mingled light of. fire and candle shone upon
the darkening night. V ‘. , v I
' Truly Mr. Pecksnift is blessed in liischildren-in one
of them, at any rate. The prudent Cherry-staff and
scrip, and treasure of her doting, father,-there she sits,
at a little table white as driven snow, before the kitchen
fire, making up accounts l - See the neat maiden, as with
pen in hand, and calculating look ‘addressed towards
the ceiling, andbunch of keys within a little basket at
her side, she checks the housekeeping expenditure 1
From flat-iron, dish-cover, and vwarrning-pan; frompot
and kettle, face of brass footman, and black-leaded stove ;
bright glances of approbation wink and glow upon her.
The very onions dangling from the beam mantle and
shine likecherubs’ cheeks; Something of the intiuence
of those vegetables sinks into Mr..Picksniii‘s nature. He
weeps.j v , f ' "- V , g 1- .
It is but for a moment, and he hides it from the obser-
vation of his ‘friend-very carefully--by a somewhat
elaborate use of his pocket-handkerchief, infact: for he
wouldnot have his weakness known. " ' . ' ' ' .
- “Pleasant,” he 'murmurcd- ‘ pleasant. to a father’s
feelings ! My dear girl ll Shall we let her know we are
here, Mr. Jonas?” ‘ I . . : 2
.' ‘,‘ Why, I suppose you don’t mean to spend the evening
in the stable or the coach’-house," he returned. , ;’ I J '
> “‘ That, indeed, is not such hospitality as Iwould show
to JIW. my friend,” cried Mr. Pecksnitf, pressing his hand.
And then he took a long.brcath,,and tapping at the win-
dow. shouted with stentorian blandness : y 2 , u
.“Bohl” ' 1, g - .
. Cherry ‘dropped her pen and screamed. But innocence
. is ever bold-or should be. .As they opened thedoor,
the valiant, girl exclaimed in a" firm voice, and witlra
presence of -mind which even in that trying moment did
not desert her, “Who are you? LWhat do you want?
Speak I or I will call my‘Pa.’.’ I.
Mr. Pecksniif held out his arms; She knew him in-
stantly, and rushed into his fond embrace. .
“It was thoutrhtless of us, .Mr. Jonas,’ i‘? W33 "CTY
thoughtless,” saill Pecksniil’,.smoothing his daughter's
all‘. “My darling, do you see that I am not alone ‘N’. ’
Not she- She had seen nothing but her father until
DOW. She saw Mr. Jonas now, though ;- and blushed,
and hung her head down, as shogavc hiin welcome. .. I .
' But where was Merry‘? v Mr. Pecksniff. didn’t ask the
qnestion in reproach, but in a vein of mildness ‘touched
with a gentle sorrow. She was up-stairs, reading on'the
Parlour couch. Ah 1 Domestic details had no charms
for her. " But call her down,” said Mr.,Pecksniff,.witl1
0. placid resignation. M’ “ Call her down, my love!’
. She was called and came,‘ all flushed and tumbled from
reposing on the sofa ; but none the.worse.for that.‘ ‘No,
not at all. Rather the better, if anything. n ‘
“ Oh my goodness me l” cricdithe arch girl. turning‘ 50
her cousin when she had kissed her father on both cheeks,
and..in her. frolicsome nature had bestowed a superna-
merary salute upon the tip of his nose, " you 1101‘0.’f1"ight I
‘V011, . I'm very thankful that you won't trouble me
much?” ' ; - I '
- “ VVhat l you’re as lively as ever, are you?” said J (mas.-
‘.‘0hl . You're a wicked, one I”: . r. ‘ ' ,
2 “ There, ‘go along I”, retorted Merry, pushing. him
away. “ I'm sure -I don’t know what 1 shall ever do,r1f
I. pave to see much of you. Go along, for gracious’
Sn re 1” ‘ ’ , i '
Mr. Pecksnilf striking in here, with a request that Mr.
Jonas would immediately walk up-stairs, he so far com-
plied with the young lady’s adjuration as to go at once.
But though he had the fair Cherry on his arm, he could
not help looking back at her sister, and exchanging some
further dialogue of the same bantering description, as
they all four ascended to the parlour; where-for the
young ladies liappened,-by. goodjfortune, to be a, little
later than usual. that, night-the tea-board was at thatj
moment being set out. , , y ,
..Mr.-Pinch- was not‘ at home, soythey had it all to them-,'
selves, and were very snug and ta1kative,'Jonas sitting,
between the two sisters, and displaying his gallantry in:
that engaging manner which was peculiar to him.’ It
was :1 hard thing, Mr. Pecksniff said, when-tea was done,’
and cleared away, to leave so pleasant a little party,’ but;
havingrsome important papers to examine in his own
apartment, he must beg them to excuse him for half an:
hour. “With this apology he withdrew, singing a careless.
strain as he went. He had not been gone five minutes, ,-
when Merry, who had been sitting in the window, apart;
from Jonas and her sister, burstrinto a half-smothered
laugh, and skipped towards the door. .
3 ‘f Hallo l” cried Jonas. ; .“ Don't go.” . .
“Oh, I dare say ! ” rejoined Merry, looking back“
5‘ You're, very anxious I should stay, fright, ain’t you ‘Z ”
“ Yes, I am,” said Jonas. 3‘ Upon my wordl am. Iv
want to speak’to you.” ’ But as she left the room not;
withstanding, he ran out after her, and brought her back,-
after ashort, struggle in thepassage which scandalised
Miss Cherry very much. , 1";
“ Upon my word, Merry,”; urged that young lady, “ I
wonder at you l There are bounds-even to absurdity,
mydear.”‘- , -’ .' " , , I
“ Thank ,you,,my sweet," said Merry, pursing up herj
rosy lips. “ Much obliged to it for its advice. O11 ! do
leave me alone,’ you monster, do l” ,'This entreaty was
wrung from her by a new proceeding on the part of M13:
Jonas, who pulledlier down, all breathless as she was,
, into a seat beside him on the sofa, having at the same‘.
time Miss Cherry upon the other side. ., I ;
“Now,” said Jonas, clasping the waistof each: “ I
have got both arms full, haven’t. Ii”. . '
' “ One of them will be black and blue tomorrow, if you.‘
don’tvlet me go,” cried the playful Merry.
, “Ah l . I don’t mind your pinching,” grinned Jonas,
" a bit.” '
r “ Pinch him for me, Cherry, pray,”. said Mercy. "I
never did hate anybody so much as I hate this creature,
Idec1are.l,”. ‘ i . " i
“No, no, don't say that,” urged Jonas, “and don’t
pinch either, because I want to be serious. I say-
Cousin Charity--”
, ‘.‘,VVell I what‘Z”, she answered sharply.
, "I want’ to have some sober talk,” said Jonas: “I.
want to prevent any mistakes, you know, and to put
everything upon a pleasant understanding. That's de-.
sirable and proper, ain’t it?” ‘
,- Neither of the sisters spoke a word. - Mr. Jonas
paused and cleared his throat, which was very dry.
. “,She’ll not believe what I'm going .to say, will she,
cousin‘I’;’ said Jonas, timidly squeezing Miss Charity.
:1‘ Really, -Mr. Jonas, I don't know, until I hear what-
it is. It's quite impossible I’? . : , , - 5 .
. ‘.1 VVhy,-- you see,” said J onas,, " her way always being
to make game oft people, 1 know she’ll:laugh, or pretend’
to-I know that, beforehand. ,But. you can tell her l’nr .
in earnest, cousin : can’t you? You’ll confess you,know,-
won’t you?’ - You’ll be honourable, l'm sure,”'hc added
persuasively. ii I t V . N W7
No answer. His throat seemed to grow- hotter, and’
hotter, and to be moreand more ditiicult of control.
“ You see, Cousin Charity,” said Jonas,‘ “ nobody but
you’ can tell her what pains I took to get into her coin-
pany when you were both at the boarding-house in the‘
city, because nobody’s so. well aware of - it, you know.
Nobody else can tell her how hard I tried to get to know‘
you better, in order that I might get to know 181‘ Without;
seeming to ‘wish it ;.can ‘they? I ‘always ‘asked you
about her, and said where had she gone, and when would’
she come, and how lively she was, and all that; didn’tr
I, cousin? I know you'll tell her so, if you haven’t told
her so already, and-andel dare say , you have, because
I’m sure you’re honourable ain't you?” .
Still not a word. The right arm of Mr. Jonas-the
elder sister sat upon his righ%mny have been sensible
of some tumultuous throbbing which was not awithin
itself ; but nothing else apprised him that hiswords had
had the least effect. . . . , . 5
q-mo.-r..
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