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‘By all means。’
Mr Tappertit raised himself on tiptoe； applied his lips to Mr
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Chester’s ear； drew back his head without saying anything； looked
hard at him； applied them to his ear again； again drew back； and
finally whispered—‘The name is Joseph Willet。 Hush！ I say no
more。’
Having said that much； he beckoned the visitor with a
mysterious aspect to follow him to the parlour…door； where he
announced him in the voice of a gentleman…usher。 ‘Mr Chester。’
‘And not Mr Ed’dard； mind；’ said Sim； looking into the door
again； and adding this by way of postscript in his own person； ‘it’s
his father。’
‘But do not let his father；’ said Mr Chester； advancing hat in
hand； as he observed the effect of this last explanatory
announcement； ‘do not let his father be any check or restraint on
your domestic occupations； Miss Varden。’
‘Oh！ Now！ There！ An’t I always a…saying it！’ exclaimed Miggs；
clapping her hands。 ‘If he an’t been and took Missis for her own
daughter。 Well； she do look like it； that she do。 Only think of that；
mim！’
‘Is it possible；’ said Mr Chester in his softest tones； ‘that this is
Mrs Varden！ I am amazed。 That is not your daughter； Mrs
Varden？ No； no。 Your sister。’
‘My daughter； indeed； sir；’ returned Mrs V。； blushing with great
juvenility。
‘Ah； Mrs Varden！’ cried the visitor。 ‘Ah； ma’am—humanity is
indeed a happy lot； when we can repeat ourselves in others； and
still be young as they。 You must allow me to salute you—the
custom of the country； my dear madam—your daughter too。’
Dolly showed some reluctance to perform this ceremony； but
was sharply reproved by Mrs Varden； who insisted on her
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undergoing it that minute。 For pride； she said with great severity；
was one of the seven deadly sins； and humility and lowliness of
heart were virtues。 Wherefore she desired that Dolly would be
kissed immediately； on pain of her just displeasure； at the same
time giving her to understand that whatever she saw her mother
do； she might safely do herself； without being at the trouble of any
reasoning or reflection on the subject—which； indeed； was
offensive and undutiful； and in direct contravention of the church
catechism。
Thus admonished； Dolly complied； though by no means
willingly； for there was a broad； bold look of admiration in Mr
Chester’s face； refined and polished though it sought to be； which
distressed her very much。 As she stood with downcast eyes； not
liking to look up and meet his； he gazed upon her with an
approving air； and then turned to her mother。
‘My friend Gabriel （whose acquaintance I only made this very
evening） should be a happy man； Mrs Varden。’
‘Ah！’ sighed Mrs V。； shaking her head。
‘Ah！’ echoed Miggs。
‘Is that the case？’ said Mr Chester； compassionately。 ‘Dear me！’
‘Master has no intentions； sir；’ murmured Miggs as she sidled
up to him； ‘but to be as grateful as his natur will let him； for
everythink he owns which it is in his powers to appreciate。 But we
never； sir’—said Miggs； looking sideways at Mrs Varden； and
interlarding her discourse with a sigh—‘we never know the full
value of some wines and fig…trees till we lose ’em。 So much the
worse； sir； for them as has the slighting of ’em on their consciences
when they’re gone to be in full blow elsewhere。’ And Miss Miggs
cast up her eyes to signify where that might be。
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As Mrs Varden distinctly heard； and was intended to hear； all
that Miggs said； and as these words appeared to convey in
metaphorical terms a presage or foreboding that she would at
some early period droop beneath her trials and take an easy flight
towards the stars； she immediately began to languish； and taking a
volume of the Manual from a neighbouring table； leant her arm
upon it as though she were Hope and that her Anchor。 Mr Chester
perceiving this； and seeing how the volume was lettered on the
back； took it gently from her hand； and turned the fluttering
leaves。
‘My favourite book； dear madam。 How often； how very often in
his early life—before he can remember’—（this clause was strictly
true） ‘have I deduced little easy moral lessons from its pages； for
my dear son Ned！ You know Ned？’
Mrs Varden had that honour； and a fine affable young
gentleman he was。
‘You’re a mother； Mrs Varden；’ said Mr Chester； taking a pinch
of snuff； ‘and you know what I； as a father； feel； when he is praised。
He gives me some uneasiness—much uneasiness—he’s of a roving
nature； ma’am—from flower to flower—from sweet to sweet—but
his is the butterfly time of life； and we must not be hard upon such
trifling。’
He glanced at Dolly。 She was attending evidently to what he
said。 Just what he desired！
‘The only thing I object to in this little trait of Ned’s； is；’ said Mr
Chester； ‘—and the mention of his name reminds me； by the way；
that I am about to beg the favour of a minute’s talk with you
alone—the only thing I object to in it； is； that it does partake of
insincerity。 Now； however I may attempt to disguise the fact from
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myself in my affection for Ned； still I always revert to this—that if
we are not sincere； we are nothing。 Nothing upon eart