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bring himself to open his lips to another. Poor fellow! said Mr. Peggotty, shaking his head, theers not so much left him, that he could spare the little as he has! And Mrs. Gummidge? said I. Well, Ive had a mort of con-sideration, I do tell you, returned Mr. Peggotty, with a perplexed look which gradually cleared as he went on, concerning of Missis Gummidge. You see, wen Missis Gummidge falls a-thinking of the old un, she ant what you may call good company. Betwixt you and me, Masr Davyand you, Maamwen Mrs. Gummidge takes to wimicking,our old country word for crying,shes liable to be considered to be, by them as didnt know the old un, peevish-like. Now I did know the old un, said Mr. Peggotty, and I knowd his merits, so I unnerstan her; but tant entirely so, you see, with othersnatrally cant be! My aunt and I both acquiesced. Wheerby, said Mr. Peggotty, my sister mightI doent say she would, but mightfind Misses Gummidge give her a leetle trouble now-and-again. Theerfur tant my intentions to moor Missis Gummidge long with them, but to find a Bein fur her wheer she can fisherate for herself. (A Bein signifies, in that dialect, a home, and to fisherate is to provide.) Fur which purpose, said Mr. Peggotty, I means to make her a lowance afore I go, asll leave her pretty comfortble. Shes the faithfullest of creeturs. Tant to be expected, of course, at her time of life, and being lone and lorn, as the good old Mawther is to be knocked about aboardship, and in the woods and wilds of a new and fur-away country. So thats what Im a-going to do with her. He forgot nobody. He thought of everybodys claims and strivings, but his own. Emly, he continued, will keep along with mepoor child, shes sore in need of peace and rest!until such time as we goes upon our voyage. Shell work at them clothes, as must be made; and I hope her troubles will begin to seem longer ago than they was, wen she finds herself once more by her rough but loving uncle. My aunt nodded confirmation of this hope, and imparted great satisfaction to Mr. Peggotty. Theers one thing furder, Masr Davy, said he, putting his hand in his breast-pocket, and gravely taking out the little paper bundle I had seen before, which he unrolled on the table. Theers these heer bank- notesfifty-pound, and ten. To them I wish to add the money as she come away with. Ive asked her about that (but not saying why), and have added of it up. I ant a scholar. Would you be so kind as see how tis? He handed me, apologetically for his scholarship, a piece of paper, and observed me while I looked it over. It was quite right. Thankee, Sir, he said, taking it back. This money, if you doent see objections, Masr Davy, I shall put up jest afore I go, in a cover drected to him; and put that up in another, drected to his mother. I shall tell her, in no more wureds than I speak to you, what its the price on; and that Im gone, and past receiving of it back. I told him that I thought it would be right to do sothat I was thoroughly convinced it would be, since he felt it to be right. I said that theer was ony one thing furder, he proceeded with a grave smile, when he had made up his little bundle again, and put it in his pocket; but theer was two. I warnt sure in my mind, wen I come out this morning, as I could go and break to Ham, of my own self, what had so thankfully happened. So I writ a letter while I was out, and put it in the post-office, telling of em how all was as tis; and that I |
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