"You know, Dolphus, my dear," said Mrs. Tetterby, "that when I was
single, I might have given myself away in several directions. At
one time, four after me at once; two of them were sons of Mars."
"We're all sons of Ma's, my dear," said Mr. Tetterby, "jointly with
Pa's."
"I don't mean that," replied his wife, "I mean soldiers -
serjeants."
"Oh!" said Mr. Tetterby.
"Well, 'Dolphus, I'm sure I never think of such things now, to
regret them; and I'm sure I've got as good a husband, and would do
as much to prove that I was fond of him, as - "
"As any little woman in the world," said Mr. Tetterby. "Very good.
VERY good."
If Mr. Tetterby had been ten feet high, he could not have expressed
a gentler consideration for Mrs. Tetterby's fairy-like stature; and
if Mrs. Tetterby had been two feet high, she could not have felt it
more appropriately her due.
"But you see, 'Dolphus," said Mrs. Tetterby, "this being Christmas-
time, when all people who can, make holiday, and when all people
who have got money, like to spend some, I did, somehow, get a
little out of sorts when I was in the streets just now. There were
so many things to be sold - such delicious things to eat, such fine
things to look at, such delightful things to have - and there was
so much calculating and calculating necessary, before I durst lay
out a sixpence for the commonest thing; and the basket was so
large, and wanted so much in it; and my stock of money was so
small, and would go such a little way; - you hate me, don't you,
'Dolphus?"
"Not quite," said Mr.
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