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placed it for a moment on the coffin； when he and his companions
were about to lower it down。 There was no inscription on the lid。
The mould fell solemnly upon the last house of this nameless
man； and the rattling dust left a dismal echo even in the
accustomed ears of those who had borne it to its resting…place。 The
grave was filled in to the top； and trodden down。 They all left the
spot together。
‘You never saw him； living？’ asked the clergyman； of Edward。
‘Often； years ago； not knowing him for my brother。’
‘Never since？’
‘Never。 Yesterday； he steadily refused to see me。 It was urged
upon him； many times； at my desire。’
‘Still he refused？ That was hardened and unnatural。’
‘Do you think so？’
‘I infer that you do not？’
‘You are right。 We hear the world wonder； every day； at
monsters of ingratitude。 Did it never occur to you that it often
looks for monsters of affection； as though they were things of
course？’
They had reached the gate by this time； and bidding each other
good night； departed on their separate ways。
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Chapter 80
hat afternoon； when he had slept off his fatigue； had
shaved； and washed； and dressed； and freshened himself
T
from top to toe； when he had dined； comforted himself
with a pipe； an extra Toby； a nap in the great arm…chair； and a
quiet chat with Mrs Varden on everything that had happened； was
happening； or about to happen； within the sphere of their
domestic concern； the locksmith sat himself down at the tea…table
in the little back…parlour： the rosiest； cosiest； merriest； heartiest；
best…contented old buck； in Great Britain or out of it。
There he sat； with his beaming eye on Mrs V。； and his shining
face suffused with gladness； and his capacious waistcoat smiling in
every wrinkle； and his jovial humour peeping from under the table
in the very plumpness of his legs； a sight to turn the vinegar of
misanthropy into purest milk of human kindness。 There he sat；
watching his wife as she decorated the room with flowers for the
greater honour of Dolly and Joseph Willet； who had gone out
walking； and for whom the tea…kettle had been singing gaily on the
hob full twenty minutes； chirping as never kettle chirped before；
for whom the best service of real undoubted china； patterned with
divers round…faced mandarins holding up broad umbrellas； was
now displayed in all its glory； to tempt whose appetites a clear；
transparent； juicy ham； garnished with cool green lettuce…leaves
and fragrant cucumber； reposed upon a shady table； covered with
a snow…white cloth； for whose delight； preserves and jams； crisp
cakes and other pastry； short to eat； with cunning twists； and
cottage loaves； and rolls of bread both white and brown； were all
set forth in rich profusion； in whose youth Mrs V。 herself had
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grown quite young； and stood there in a gown of red and white：
symmetrical in figure； buxom in bodice； ruddy in cheek and lip；
faultless in ankle； laughing in face and mood； in all respects
delicious to behold—there sat the locksmith among all and every
these delights； the sun that shone upon them all： the centre of the
system： the source of light； heat； life； and frank enjoyment in the
bright household world。
And when had Dolly ever been the Dolly of that afternoon？ To
see how she came in； arm…in…arm with Joe； and how she made an
effort not to blush or seem at all confused； and how she made
believe she didn’t care to sit on his side of the table； and how she
coaxed the locksmith in a whisper not to joke； and how her colour
came and went in a little restless flutter of happiness； which made
her do everything wrong； and yet so charmingly wrong that it was
better than right！—why； the locksmith could have looked on at this
（as he mentioned to Mrs Varden when they retired for the night）
for four…and…twenty hours at a stretch； and never wished it done。
The recollections； too； with which they made merry over that
long protracted tea！ The glee with which the locksmith asked Joe
if he remembered that stormy night at the Maypole when he first
asked after Dolly—the laugh they all had； about that night when
she was going out to the party in the sedan…chair—the unmerciful
manner in which they rallied Mrs Varden about putting those
flowers outside that very window—the difficulty Mrs Varden
found in joining the laugh against herself； at first； and the
extraordinary perception she had of the joke when she overcame
it—the confidential statements of Joe concerning the precise day
and hour when he was first conscious of being fond of Dolly； and
Dolly’s blushing admissions； half volunteered and half extorted； as
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to the time from which she dated the discovery that she ‘didn’t
mind’ Joe—here was an exhaustless fund of mirth and
conversation。
Then； there was a great deal to be said regarding Mrs Varden’s
doubts； and motherly alarms； and shrewd suspicions； and it
appeared that from Mrs Varden’s penetration and extreme
sagacity nothing had ever been hidden。 She had known it all
along。 She had seen it from the first。 She had always predicted it。
She had been aware of it before the principals。 She had said
within herself （for she remembered the exact words） ‘that young
Willet is certainly looking after our Dolly； and I must look after
him。’ Accordingly； she had looked after him； and had observed
many little circumstance