But oh,
dear John, how could you, could you, think so!'
Little woman, how she sobbed again! John Peerybingle would have
caught her in his arms. But no; she wouldn't let him.
'Don't love me yet, please, John! Not for a long time yet! When I
was sad about this intended marriage, dear, it was because I
remembered May and Edward such young lovers; and knew that her
heart was far away from Tackleton. You believe that, now. Don't
you, John?'
John was going to make another rush at this appeal; but she stopped
him again.
'No; keep there, please, John! When I laugh at you, as I sometimes
do, John, and call you clumsy and a dear old goose, and names of
that sort, it's because I love you, John, so well, and take such
pleasure in your ways, and wouldn't see you altered in the least
respect to have you made a King to-morrow.'
'Hooroar!' said Caleb with unusual vigour. 'My opinion!'
'And when I speak of people being middle-aged, and steady, John,
and pretend that we are a humdrum couple, going on in a jog-trot
sort of way, it's only because I'm such a silly little thing, John,
that I like, sometimes, to act a kind of Play with Baby, and all
that: and make believe.
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