The allied powers deeming it good generalship to consider this asufficient apology on the part of the enemy, and confession ofhaving been in the wrong, did dry their eyes and take it in goodpart. Miss Miggs observed that she bore no malice, no not to hergreatest foe, whom she rather loved the more indeed, the greaterpersecution she sustained. Mrs Varden approved of this meek andforgiving spirit in high terms, and incidentally declared as aclosing article of agreement, that Dolly should accompany her tothe Clerkenwell branch of the association, that very night. Thiswas an extraordinary instance of her great prudence and policy;having had this end in view from the first, and entertaining asecret misgiving that the locksmith (who was bold when Dolly was inquestion) would object, she had backed Miss Miggs up to thispoint, in order that she might have him at a disadvantage. Themanoeuvre succeeded so well that Gabriel only made a wry face, andwith the warning he had just had, fresh in his mind, did not dareto say one word.
The difference ended, therefore, in Miggs being presented with agown by Mrs Varden and half-a-crown by Dolly, as if she hademinently distinguished herself in the paths of morality andgoodness. Mrs V., according to custom, expressed her hope thatVarden would take a lesson from what had passed and learn moregenerous conduct for the time to come; and the dinner being nowcold and nobody"s appetite very much improved by what had passed,they went on with it, as Mrs Varden said, "like Christians."
As there was to be a grand parade of the Royal East LondonVolunteers that afternoon, the locksmith did no more work; but satdown comfortably with his pipe in his mouth, and his arm round hispretty daughter"s waist, looking lovingly on Mrs V., from time totime, and exhibiting from the crown of his head to the sole of hisfoot, one smiling surface of good humour. And to be sure, when itwas time to dress him in his regimentals, and Dolly, hanging abouthim in all kinds of graceful winning ways, helped to button andbuckle and brush him up and get him into one of the tightest coatsthat ever was made by mortal tailor, he was the proudest father inall England.
"What a handy jade it is!" said the locksmith to Mrs Varden, whostood by with folded hands--rather proud of her husband too--whileMiggs held his cap and sword at arm"s length, as if mistrustingthat the latter might run some one through the body of its ownaccord; "but never marry a soldier, Doll, my dear."
Dolly didn"t ask why not, or say a word, indeed, but stooped herhead down very low to tie his sash.
"I never wear this dress," said honest Gabriel, "but I think ofpoor 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 laughthat could be--and held her head down lower still.
"Poor Joe!" resumed the locksmith, muttering to himself; "I alwayswish he had come to me. I might have made it up between them, ifhe had. Ah! old John made a great mistake in his way of acting bythat lad--a great mistake.--Have you nearly tied that sash, mydear?"
What an ill-made sash it was! There it was, loose again andtrailing on the ground. Dolly was obliged to kneel down, andrecommence at the beginning.
"Never mind young Willet, Varden," said his wife frowning; "youmight 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 hardupon him. If the lad is dead indeed, we"ll deal kindly by hismemory."
"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 ina gentle tone. "He behaved himself well, did Joe--always--and wasa handsome, manly fellow. Don"t call him a vagabond, Martha."
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 hedid. It seems but yesterday that he followed me out to the Maypoledoor one night, and begged me not to say how like a boy they usedhim--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 tolook into her face, "a-giving way to floods of tears. Oh mim! ohsir. Raly it"s give me such a turn," cried the susceptible damsel,pressing her hand upon her side to quell the palpitation of herheart, "that you might knock me down with a feather."
The locksmith, after glancing at Miss Miggs as if he could havewished to have a feather brought straightway, looked on with abroad stare while Dolly hurried away, followed by that sympathisingyoung woman: then turning to his wife, stammered out, "Is Dollyill? Have I done anything? Is it my fault?"
"Your fault!" cried Mrs V. reproachfully. "There--you had bettermake haste out."
"What have I done?" said poor Gabriel. "It was agreed that MrEdward"s name was never to be mentioned, and I have not spoken ofhim, have I?"
Mrs Varden merely replied that she had no patience with him, andbounced off after the other two. The unfortunate locksmith woundhis sash about him, girded on his sword, put on his cap, and walkedout.
"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 tobe 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 wenton with a shining face, nodding to the neighbours, and showeringabout his friendly greetings like mild spring rain.