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hand, or a humming-bird on the other, is nothing, in point of
workmanship, to an honest man - or woman - or woman.'
'Anything that Mr Witherden can say of me,' observed a small quiet
voice, 'I can say, with interest, of him, I am sure.'
'It's a happy circumstance, a truly happy circumstance,' said the
Notary, 'to happen too upon his eight-and-twentieth birthday, and I
hope I know how to appreciate it. I trust, Mr Garland, my dear Sir,
that we may mutually congratulate each other upon this auspicious
occasion.'
To this the old gentleman replied that he felt assured they might.
There appeared to be another shaking of hands in consequence, and
when it was over, the old gentleman said that, though he said it who
should not, he believed no son had ever been a greater comfort to his
parents than Abel Garland had been to his.
'Marrying as his mother and I did, late in life, sir, after waiting for a
great many years, until we were well enough off - coming together
when we were no longer young, and then being blessed with one child
who has always been dutiful and affectionate - why, it's a source of
great happiness to us both, sir.'
'Of course it is, I have no doubt of it,' returned the Notary in a
sympathising voice. 'It's the contemplation of this sort of thing, that
makes me deplore my fate in being a bachelor. There was a young lady
once, sir, the daughter of an outfitting warehouse of the first
respectability - but that's a weakness. Chuckster, bring in Mr Abel's
articles.'
'
You see, Mr Witherden,' said the old lady, 'that Abel has not been
brought up like the run of young men. He has always had a pleasure
in our society, and always been with us. Abel has never been absent
from us, for a day; has he, my dear?'
'
Never, my dear,' returned the old gentleman, 'except when he went to
Margate one Saturday with Mr Tomkinley that had been a teacher at
that school he went to, and came back upon the Monday; but he was
very ill after that, you remember, my dear; it was quite a dissipation.'
'
He was not used to it, you know,' said the old lady, 'and he couldn't
bear it, that's the truth. Besides he had no comfort in being there
without us, and had nobody to talk to or enjoy himself with.'
'
That was it, you know,' interposed the same small quiet voice that
had spoken once before. 'I was quite abroad, mother, quite desolate,
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