sure that what she--me again, John--said and thought
was right. And it WAS right, John! And they were brought together, John!
And they were married, John, an hour ago! And here's the Bride! And
Gruff and Tackleton may die a bachelor! And I'm a happy little woman,
May, God bless you!"

She was an irresistible little woman, if that be anything to the
purpose; and never so completely irresistible as in her present
transports. There never were congratulations so endearing and delicious
as those she lavished on herself and on the Bride.

Amid the tumult of emotions in his breast, the honest Carrier had stood
confounded. Flying, now, towards her, Dot stretched out her hand to stop
him, and retreated as before.

"No, John, no! Hear all! Don't love me any more, John, till you've heard
every word I have to say. It was wrong to have a secret from you, John.
I'm very sorry. I didn't think it any harm, till I came and sat down by
you on the little stool last night. But when I knew, by what was written
in your face, that you had seen me walking in the gallery with Edward,
and when I knew what you thought, I felt how giddy and how wrong it was.
But oh, dear John, how could you, could you think so?"

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?"

John was going to make another rush at this appeal; but she stopped him
again.

"No; keep there, please, John! When I laugh at you, as I sometimes do,
John, and call you clumsy and a dear old goose, and names of that sort,
it's because I love you, John, so well, and take such pleasure in your
ways, and wouldn't see you altered in the least respect to have you made
a king to-morrow."

"Hooroar!" said Caleb with unusual vigour. "My opinion!"

"And when I speak of people being middle-aged and steady, John, and
pretend that we are a humdrum couple, going on in a jog-trot sort of
way, it's only because I'm such a silly little thing, John, that I like,
sometimes, to act as a kind of Play with Baby, and all that: and make
believe."

She saw that he was coming; and stopped him again. But she was very
nearly too late.

"No, don't love me for another minut