night," he said at length, "my wife--my wife that I
love--secretly----"

"And tenderly," insinuated Tackleton.

"--Conniving at that man's disguise, and giving him opportunities of
meeting her alone. I think there's no sight I wouldn't have rather seen
than that. I think there's no man in the world I wouldn't have rather
had to show it me."

"I confess to having had my suspicions always," said Tackleton. "And
that has made me objectionable here, I know."

"But, as you did show it me," pursued the Carrier, not minding him; "and
as you saw her, my wife, my wife that I love"--his voice, and eye, and
hand grew steadier and firmer as he repeated these words: evidently in
pursuance of a steadfast purpose--"as you saw her at this disadvantage,
it is right and just that you should also see with my eyes, and look
into my breast, and know what my mind is upon the subject. For it's
settled," said the Carrier, regarding him attentively. "And nothing can
shake it now."

Tackleton muttered a few general words of assent about its being
necessary to vindicate something or other; but he was overawed by the
manner of his companion. Plain and unpolished as it was, it had a
something dignified and noble in it, which nothing but the soul of
generous honour dwelling in the man could have imparted.

"I am a plain, rough man," pursued the Carrier "with very little to
recommend me. I am not a clever man, as you very well know. I am not a
young man. I loved my little Dot, because I had seen her grow up, from a
child, in her father's house; because I knew how precious she was;
because she had been my life for years and years. There's many men I
can't compare with, who never could have loved my little Dot like me, I
think!"

He paused, and softly beat the ground a short time with his foot, before
resuming:

"I often thought that though I wasn't good enough for her, I should make
her a kind husband, and perhaps know her value better than another; and
in this way I reconciled it to myself, and came to think it might be
possible that we should be married. And, in the end, it came about, and
we _were_ married!"

"Hah!" said Tackleton with a significant shake of his head.

"I had studied myself; I had had experience of myself; I knew how much I
loved her, and how happy I should be," pursued the Carrier. "But I had
not--I feel it now--sufficiently considered her."

"To be sure," said Tackleton. "Giddiness, frivolity, fickleness, love of