| 488 | 489 | 490 | 491 | 492 |
| 1 | 133 | 265 | 398 | 530 |
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Kit's mother comes in and says, will he come and speak to her; and
Kit says 'Yes,' and goes; and he says in a kind voice 'Barbara!' and
Barbara's mother tells her that 'it's only Kit;' and Barbara says (with
her eyes closed all the time) 'Oh! but is it him indeed?' and Barbara's
mother says 'To be sure it is, my dear; there's nothing the matter
now.' And in further assurance that he's safe and sound, Kit speaks to
her again; and then Barbara goes off into another fit of laughter, and
then into another fit of crying; and then Barbara's mother and Kit's
mother nod to each other and pretend to scold her - but only to bring
her to herself the faster, bless you! - and being experienced matrons,
and acute at perceiving the first dawning symptoms of recovery, they
comfort Kit with the assurance that 'she'll do now,' and so dismiss
him to the place from whence he came.
Well! In that place (which is the next room) there are decanters of
wine, and all that sort of thing, set out as grand as if Kit and his
friends were first-rate company; and there is little Jacob, walking, as
the popular phrase is, into a home-made plum-cake, at a most
surprising pace, and keeping his eye on the figs and oranges which
are to follow, and making the best use of his time, you may believe. Kit
no sooner comes in, than that single gentleman (never was such a
busy gentleman) charges all the glasses - bumpers - and drinks his
health, and tells him he shall never want a friend while he lives; and
so does Mr Garland, and so does Mrs Garland, and so does Mr Abel.
But even this honour and distinction is not all, for the single
gentleman forthwith pulls out of his pocket a massive silver watch -
going hard, and right to half a second - and upon the back of this
watch is engraved Kit's name, with flourishes all over; and in short it
is Kit's watch, bought expressly for him, and presented to him on the
spot. You may rest assured that Mr and Mrs Garland can't help
hinting about their present, in store, and that Mr Abel tells outright
that he has his; and that Kit is the happiest of the happy.
There is one friend he has not seen yet, and as he cannot be
conveniently introduced into the family circle, by reason of his being
an iron-shod quadruped, Kit takes the first opportunity of slipping
away and hurrying to the stable. The moment he lays his hand upon
the latch, the pony neighs the loudest pony's greeting; before he has
crossed the threshold, the pony is capering about his loose box (for he
brooks not the indignity of a halter), mad to give him welcome; and
when Kit goes up to caress and pat him, the pony rubs his nose
against his coat, and fondles him more lovingly than ever pony
fondled man. It is the crowning circumstance of his earnest, heartfelt
reception; and Kit fairly puts his arm round Whisker's neck and hugs
him.
But how comes Barbara to trip in there? and how smart she is again!
she has been at her glass since she recovered. How comes Barbara in
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