Mr. Tetterby, without regarding this tacit
invitation to be seated, stood repeating slowly, "Yes, yes, your
supper will be ready in a minute, 'Dolphus - your mother went out
in the wet, to the cook's shop, to buy it. It was very good of
your mother so to do" - until Mrs. Tetterby, who had been
exhibiting sundry tokens of contrition behind him, caught him round
the neck, and wept.
"Oh, Dolphus!" said Mrs. Tetterby, "how could I go and behave so?"
This reconciliation affected Adolphus the younger and Johnny to
that degree, that they both, as with one accord, raised a dismal
cry, which had the effect of immediately shutting up the round eyes
in the beds, and utterly routing the two remaining little
Tetterbys, just then stealing in from the adjoining closet to see
what was going on in the eating way.
"I am sure, 'Dolphus," sobbed Mrs. Tetterby, "coming home, I had no
more idea than a child unborn - "
Mr. Tetterby seemed to dislike this figure of speech, and observed,
"Say than the baby, my dear."
" - Had no more idea than the baby," said Mrs. Tetterby. - "Johnny,
don't look at me, but look at her, or she'll fall out of your lap
and be killed, and then you'll die in agonies of a broken heart,
and serve you right. - No more idea I hadn't than that darling, of
being cross when I came home; but somehow, 'Dolphus - " Mrs.
Pages:
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68