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man； I would be your wife； dear love； with greater pride and joy；
than if you were the stateliest lord in England！’
‘What have I done；’ cried Joe； ‘what have I done to meet with
this reward？’
‘You have taught me；’ said Dolly； raising her pretty face to his；
‘to know myself； and your worth； to be something better than I
was； to be more deserving of your true and manly nature。 In years
to come； dear Joe； you shall find that you have done so； for I will
be； not only now； when we are young and full of hope； but when
we have grown old and weary； your patient； gentle； never…tiring
wife。 I will never know a wish or care beyond our home and you；
and I will always study how to please you with my best affection
and my most devoted love。 I will： indeed I will！’
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Joe could only repeat his former eloquence—but it was very
much to the purpose。
‘They know of this； at home；’ said Dolly。 ‘For your sake； I would
leave even them； but they know it； and are glad of it； and are as
proud of you as I am； and as full of gratitude。—You’ll not come
and see me as a poor friend who knew me when I was a girl； will
you； dear Joe？’
Well； well！ It don’t matter what Joe said in answer； but he said a
great deal； and Dolly said a great deal too： and he folded Dolly in
his one arm pretty tight； considering that it was but one； and Dolly
made no resistance： and if ever two people were happy in this
world—which is not an utterly miserable one； with all its faults—
we may； with some appearance of certainty； conclude that they
were。
To say that during these proceedings Mr Willet the elder
underwent the greatest emotions of astonishment of which our
common nature is susceptible—to say that he was in a perfect
paralysis of surprise； and that he wandered into the most
stupendous and theretofore unattainable heights of complicated
amazement—would be to shadow forth his state of mind in the
feeblest and lamest terms。 If a roc； an eagle； a griffin； a flying
elephant； a winged sea…horse； had suddenly appeared； and； taking
him on its back； carried him bodily into the heart of the
‘Salwanners；’ it would have been to him as an everyday
occurrence； in comparison with what he now beheld。 To be sitting
quietly by； seeing and hearing these things； to be completely
overlooked； unnoticed； and disregarded； while his son and a young
lady were talking to each other in the most impassioned manner；
kissing each other； and making themselves in all respects perfectly
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at home； was a position so tremendous； so inexplicable； so utterly
beyond the widest range of his capacity of comprehension； that he
fell into a lethargy of wonder； and could no more rouse himself
than an enchanted sleeper in the first year of his fairy lease； a
century long。
‘Father；’ said Joe； presenting Dolly。 ‘You know who this is？’
Mr Willet looked first at her； then at his son； then back again at
Dolly； and then made an ineffectual effort to extract a whiff from
his pipe； which had gone out long ago。
‘Say a word； father； if it’s only “how d’ye do；”’ urged Joe。
‘Certainly； Joseph；’ answered Mr Willet。 ‘Oh yes！ Why not？’
‘To be sure；’ said Joe。 ‘Why not？’
‘Ah！’ replied his father。 ‘Why not？’ and with this remark； which
he uttered in a low voice as though he were discussing some grave
question with himself； he used the little finger—if any of his
fingers can be said to have come under that denomination—of his
right hand as a tobacco…stopper； and was silent again。
And so he sat for half an hour at least； although Dolly； in the
most endearing of manners； hoped； a dozen times； that he was not
angry with her。 So he sat for half an hour； quite motionless； and
looking all the while like nothing so much as a great Dutch Pin or
Skittle。 At the expiration of that period； he suddenly； and without
the least notice； burst （to the great consternation of the young
people） into a very loud and very short laugh； and repeating；
‘Certainly； Joseph。 Oh yes！ Why not？’ went out for a walk。
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Chapter 79
ld John did not walk near the Golden Key； for between
the Golden Key and the Black Lion there lay a wilderness
O
of streets—as everybody knows who is acquainted with
the relative bearings of Clerkenwell and Whitechapel—and he was
by no means famous for pedestrian exercises。 But the Golden Key
lies in our way； though it was out of his； so to the Golden Key this
chapter goes。
The Golden Key itself； fair emblem of the locksmith’s trade； had
been pulled down by the rioters； and roughly trampled under foot。
But； now； it was hoisted up again in all the glory of a new coat of
paint； and shewed more bravely even than in days of yore。 Indeed
the whole house…front was spruce and trim； and so freshened up
throughout； that if there yet remained at large any of the rioters
who had been concerned in the attack upon it； the sight of the old；
goodly； prosperous dwelling； so revived； must have been to them
as gall and wormwood。
The shutters of the shop were closed； however； and the
window…blinds above were all pulled down； and in place of its
usual cheerful appearance； the house had a look of sadness and an
air of mourning； which the neighbours； who in old days had often
seen poor Barnaby go in and out； were at no loss to understand。
The door stood partly open； but the locksmith’s hammer was
unheard； the cat sat moping on the ashy forge； all was deserted；
dark； and silent。
On the threshold of this door； Mr Haredale and Edward Chester
met。 The younger man gave place