CHAPTER XXIX. HAS AN INTRODUCTORY ACCOUNT OF THE INMATES OF THE HOUSE, TO WHICH OLIVER RESORTED

pysmile,weremadeforHome,andfiresidepeaceandhappiness. Shewasbusilyengagedinthelittleofficesofthetable.Chancingtoraisehereyesastheelderladywasregardingher,sheplayfullyputbackherhair,whichwassimplybraidedonherforeheadandthrewintoherbeaminglook,suchanexpressionofaffectionandartlessloveliness,thatblessedspiritsmighthavesmiledtolookuponher. “AndBrittleshasbeengoneupwardsofanhour,hashe?”askedtheoldlady,afterapause. “Anhourandtwelveminutes,ma’am,”repliedMr.Giles,referringtoasilverwatch,whichhedrewforthbyablackribbon. “Heisalwaysslow,”remarkedtheoldlady. “Brittlesalwayswasaslowboy,ma’am,”repliedtheattendant.Andseeing,bythebye,thatBrittleshadbeenaslowboyforupwardsofthirtyyears,thereappearednogreatprobabilityofhiseverbeingafastone. “Hegetsworseinsteadofbetter,Ithink,”saidtheelderlady. “Itisveryinexcusableinhimifhestopstoplaywithanyotherboys,”saidtheyounglady,smiling. Mr.Gileswasapparentlyconsideringtheproprietyofindulginginarespectfulsmilehimself,whenagigdroveuptothegarden-gate:outofwhichtherejumpedafatgentleman,whoranstraightuptothedoor:andwho,gettingquicklyintothehousebysomemysteriousprocess,burstintotheroom,andnearlyoverturnedMr.Gilesandthebreakfast-tabletogether. “Ineverheardofsuchathing!”exclaimedthefatgentleman.“MydearMrs.Maylie—blessmysoul—inthesilenceofthenight,too—Ineverheardofsuchathing!” Withtheseexpressionsofcondolence,thefatgentlemanshookhandswithbothladies,anddrawingupachair,inquiredhowtheyfoundthemselves. “Yououghttobedeadpositivelydeadwiththefright,”saidthefatgentleman.“Whydidn’tyousend?Blessme,mymanshouldhavecomeinaminuteandsowouldIa