The Chimes
“Married, and not tell me, Meg!” cried the good woman. “Never! I couldn’t rest on the laft night of the Old Year without coming to wish you joy. I couldn’t have done it, Meg. Not if I had been bed-ridden. So here I am; and as it’s New Year’s Eve, and the Eve of your wedding too, my dear, I had a little flip made, and brought it with me.”
Mrs. Chickenstalker’s notion of a little flip did honour to her character. The pitcher steamed and smoked and reeked like a volcano; and the man who had carried it was faint.
“Mrs. Tugby!” said Trotty, who had been going round and round her, in an ecstasy.—“I should say, Chickenstalker—Bless your heart and soul! A happy New Year and many of ’em! Mrs. Tugby,” said Trotty, when he had saluted her;—“I should say, Chickenstalker—This is William Fern and Lilian.”
The worthy dame, to his surprise, turned very pale and very red.
“Not Lilian Fern whose mother died in Dorsetshire!” said she.
Her uncle answered “Yes,” and meeting hastily, they exchanged some hurried words together; of which the upshot was, that Mrs. Chickenstalker shook him by both hands; saluted Trotty on his cheek again of her own flee will; and took the child to her capacious breast.
“Will Fern!” said Trotty, pulling on bis right-hand muffler. “Not the friend you was hoping to find?”128
