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mistrusting that the latter might run some one through the body of
its own accord； ‘but never marry a soldier； Doll； my dear。’
Dolly didn’t ask why not； or say a word； indeed； but stooped her
head down very low to tie his sash。
‘I never wear this dress；’ said honest Gabriel； ‘but I think of
poor Joe Willet。 I loved Joe； he was always a favourite of mine。
Poor Joe！—Dear heart； my girl； don’t tie me in so tight。’
Dolly laughed—not like herself at all—the strangest little laugh
that could be—and held her head down lower still。
‘Poor Joe！’ resumed the locksmith； muttering to himself； ‘I
always wish he had come to me。 I might have made it up between
them； if he had。 Ah！ old John made a great mistake in his way of
acting by that lad—a great mistake。—Have you nearly tied that
sash； my dear？’
What an ill…made sash it was！ There it was； loose again and
trailing on the ground。 Dolly was obliged to kneel down； and
recommence at the beginning。
‘Never mind young Willet； Varden；’ said his wife frowning； ‘you
might find some one more deserving to talk about； I think。’
Miss Miggs gave a great sniff to the same effect。
‘Nay； Martha；’ cried the locksmith； ‘don’t let us bear too hard
upon him。 If the lad is dead indeed； we’ll deal kindly by his
memory。’
‘A runaway and a vagabond！’ said Mrs Varden。
Miss Miggs expressed her concurrence as before。
‘A runaway； my dear； but not a vagabond；’ returned the
locksmith in a gentle tone。 ‘He behaved himself well； did Joe—
always—and was a handsome； manly fellow。 Don’t call him a
vagabond； Martha。’
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Mrs Varden coughed—and so did Miggs。
‘He tried hard to gain your good opinion； Martha； I can tell you；’
said the locksmith smiling； and stroking his chin。 ‘Ah！ that he did。
It seems but yesterday that he followed me out to the Maypole
door one night； and begged me not to say how like a boy they used
him—say here； at home； he meant； though at the time； I recollect； I
didn’t understand。 “And how’s Miss Dolly； sir？” says Joe；’ pursued
the locksmith； musing sorrowfully； ‘Ah！ Poor Joe！’
‘Well； I declare；’ cried Miggs。 ‘Oh！ Goodness gracious me！’
‘What’s the matter now？’ said Gabriel； turning sharply to her；
‘Why； if here an’t Miss Dolly；’ said the handmaid； stooping down to
look into her face； ‘a…giving way to floods of tears。 Oh mim！ oh sir。
Raly it’s give me such a turn；’ cried the susceptible damsel；
pressing her hand upon her side to quell the palpitation of her
heart； ‘that you might knock me down with a feather。’
The locksmith； after glancing at Miss Miggs as if he could have
wished to have a feather brought straightway； looked on with a
broad stare while Dolly hurried away； followed by that
sympathising young woman： then turning to his wife； stammered
out； ‘Is Dolly ill？ Have I done anything？ Is it my fault？’
‘Your fault！’ cried Mrs V。 reproachfully。 ‘There—you had better
make haste out。’
‘What have I done？’ said poor Gabriel。 ‘It was agreed that Mr
Edward’s name was never to be mentioned； and I have not spoken
of him； have I？’
Mrs Varden merely replied that she had no patience with him；
and bounced off after the other two。 The unfortunate locksmith
wound his sash about him； girded on his sword； put on his cap；
and walked out。
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‘I am not much of a dab at my exercise；’ he said under his
breath； ‘but I shall get into fewer scrapes at that work than at this。
Every man came into the world for something； my department
seems to be to make every woman cry without meaning it。 It’s
rather hard！’
But he forgot it before he reached the end of the street； and
went on with a shining face； nodding to the neighbours； and
showering about his friendly greetings like mild spring rain。
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Chapter 42
he Royal East London Volunteers made a brilliant sight
that day： formed into lines； squares； circles； triangles； and
T
what not； to the beating of drums； and the streaming of
flags； and performed a vast number of complex evolutions； in all of
which Serjeant Varden bore a conspicuous share。 Having
displayed their military prowess to the utmost in these warlike
shows； they marched in glittering order to the Chelsea Bun House；
and regaled in the adjacent taverns until dark。 Then at sound of
drum they fell in again； and returned amidst the shouting of His
Majesty’s lieges to the place from whence they came。
The homeward march being somewhat tardy；—owing to the
un…soldierlike behaviour of certain corporals； who； being
gentlemen of sedentary pursuits in private life and excitable out of
doors； broke several windows with their bayonets； and rendered it
imperative on the commanding officer to deliver them over to a
strong guard； with whom they fought at intervals as they came
along；—it was nine o’clock when the locksmith reached home。 A
hackney…coach was waiting near his door； and as he passed it； Mr
Haredale looked from the window and called him by his name。
‘The sight of you is good for sore eyes； sir；’ said the locksmith；
stepping up to him。 ‘I wish you had walked in though； rather than
waited here。’
‘There is nobody at home； I find；’ Mr Haredale answered；
‘besides； I desired to be as private as I could。’
‘Humph！’ muttered the locksmith； looking round at his house。
‘Gone with Simon Tappertit to that precious Branch； no doubt。’
Mr Haredale invited him to come into the coach； and； if he were
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not tired or anxious to go home； to ride with him a little way that
they might have some talk together。 Gabriel cheerfully complied；
and the coachman mounting his box drove off。
‘Varden；’ said Mr Haredale； after a minute’s pause； ‘you will be
amazed to hear what errand I am on； it will seem a very strange
one。’
‘I have no doubt it’s a reasonable one； sir； and has a meaning in
it；’ replied the locksmith； ‘or it would not be yours at all。 Have you
just come back to town； sir？’
‘But half an hour ago。’
‘Bringing no news of Barnaby； or his mother？’ said the
locksmith dubiously。 ‘Ah！ you needn’t shake your head； sir。 It was
a wild…goose chase。 I feared that； from the first。 You exhausted all
reasonable means of discovery when they went away。 To begin
again after so long a time has passed is hopeless； sir—quite
hopeless。’
‘Why； where are they？’ he returned impatiently。 ‘Where can
they be？ Above ground？’
‘God knows；’ rejoined the locksmith； ‘many that I knew above it
five years ago； have their beds under the grass now。 And the world
is a wide place。 It’s a hopeless attempt； sir； believe me。 We must
leave the discovery of this mystery； like all others； to time； and
accident； and Heaven’s pleasure。’
‘Varden； my good fellow；’ said Mr Haredale； ‘I have a deeper
meaning in my present anxiety to find them out； than you can
fathom。 It is not a mere whim； it is not the casual revival of my old
wishes and desires； but an earnest； solemn purpose。 My thoughts