'Oh certainly!' said Tackleton. 'Oh to be sure. Oh it's all
right. It's quite correct. Mrs. Edward Plummer, I infer?'
'That's the name,' returned the bridegroom.
'Ah, I shouldn't have known you, sir,' said Tackleton, scrutinising
his face narrowly, and making a low bow. 'I give you joy, sir!'
'Thank'ee.'
'Mrs. Peerybingle,' said Tackleton, turning suddenly to where she
stood with her husband; 'I am sorry. You haven't done me a very
great kindness, but, upon my life I am sorry. You are better than
I thought you. John Peerybingle, I am sorry. You understand me;
that's enough. It's quite correct, ladies and gentlemen all, and
perfectly satisfactory. Good morning!'
With these words he carried it off, and carried himself off too:
merely stopping at the door, to take the flowers and favours from
his horse's head, and to kick that animal once, in the ribs, as a
means of informing him that there was a screw loose in his
arrangements.
Of course it became a serious duty now, to make such a day of it,
as should mark these events for a high Feast and Festival in the
Peerybingle Calendar for evermore.
Pages:
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157