"You are affected," says the gentleman in a kindly manner.
"I feel, sir," says I, "that I am but a rough chap in a sleeved
waistcoat."
"I feel," says the gentleman, "that it was you who raised her from misery
and degradation, and brought her into communication with her kind. But
why do we converse alone together, when we can converse so well with her?
Address her in your own way."
"I am such a rough chap in a sleeved waistcoat, sir," says I, "and she is
such a graceful woman, and she stands so quiet at the door!"
"_Try_ if she moves at the old sign," says the gentleman.
They had got it up together o' purpose to please me! For when I give her
the old sign, she rushed to my feet, and dropped upon her knees, holding
up her hands to me with pouring tears of love and joy; and when I took
her hands and lifted her, she clasped me round the neck, and lay there;
and I don't know what a fool I didn't make of myself, until we all three
settled down into talking without sound, as if there was a something soft
and pleasant spread over the whole world for us.
* * * * *
[A portion is here omitted from the text, having reference to the
sketches contributed by other writers; but the reader will be pleased to
have what follows retained in a note:
"Now I'll tell you what I am a-going to do with you.
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