Tetterby brought his eye to bear upon the partner of his bosom, and said, in mild astonishment:
"My little woman, what has put you out?"
"I′m sure _I_ don′t know," she retorted. "Don′t ask me. Who said I was put out at all? _I_ never did."
Mr. Tetterby gave up the perusal of his newspaper as a bad job, and, taking a slow walk across the room, with his hands behind him, and his shoulders raised—his gait according perfectly with the resignation of his manner—addressed himself to his two eldest offspring.
"Your supper will be ready in a minute, ′Dolphus," said Mr. Tetterby. "Your mother has been out in the wet, to the cook′s shop, to buy it. It was very good of your mother so to do. YOU shall get some supper too, very soon, Johnny. Your mother′s pleased with you, my man, for being so attentive to your precious sister."
Mrs. Tetterby, without any remark, but with a decided subsidence of her animosity towards the table, finished her preparations, and took, from her ample basket, a substantial slab of hot pease pudding wrapped in paper, and a basin covered with a saucer, which, on being uncovered, sent forth an odour so agreeable, that the three pair of eyes in the two beds opened wide and fixed themselves upon the banquet. Mr. Tetterby, without regarding this tacit invitation to be seated, stood repeating slowly, "Yes, yes, your supper will be ready in a minute, ′Dolphus—your mother went out in the wet, to the cook′s shop, to buy it. It was very good of your mother so to do"—until Mrs. Tetterby, who had been exhibiting sundry tokens of contrition behind him, caught him round the neck, and wept.
"Oh, Dolphus!" said Mrs. Tetterby, "how could I go and behave so?"
This reconciliation affected Adolphus the younger and Johnny to that degree, that they both, as with one accord, raised a dismal cry, which had the effect of immediately shutting up the round eyes in the beds, and utterly routing the two remaining little Tetterbys, just then stealing in from the adjoining closet to see what was going on in the eating way.
"I am sure, ′Dolphus," sobbed Mrs. Tetterby, "coming home, I had no more idea than a child unborn—"
Mr. Tetterby seemed to dislike this figure of speech, and observed, "Say than the baby, my dear."
"—Had no more idea than the baby," said Mrs. Tetterby.—"Johnny, don′t look at me, but look at her, or she′ll fall out of your lap and be killed, and then you′ll die in agonies of a broken heart, and serve you right.—No more idea I hadn′t than that darling, of being cross when I came home; but somehow, ′Dolphus—" Mrs. Tetterby paused, and again turned her wedding-ring round and round upon her finger.
"I see!" said Mr. Tetterby. "I understand! My little woman was put out. Hard times, and hard weather, and hard work, make it trying now and then. I see, bless your soul! No wonder! Dolf, my man," continued Mr. Tetterby, exploring the basin with a fork, "here′s your mother been and bought, at the cook′s shop, besides pease pudding, a whole knuckle of a lovely roast leg of pork, with lots of crackling left upon it, and with seasoning gravy and mustard quite unlimited. Hand in your plate, my boy, and begin while it′s simmering."
Master Adolphus, needing no second summons, received his portion with eyes rendered moist by appetite, and withdrawing to his particular stool, fell upon his supper tooth and nail. Johnny was not forgotten, but received his rations on bread, lest he should, in a flush of gravy, trickle any on the baby.
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