'Tell him then, Barnaby, should he be engaged,' said Mr Chester, 'that
I shall be glad to wait his convenience here, and to see him (if he will
call) at any time this evening.--At the worst I can have a bed here,
Willet, I suppose?'
Old John, immensely flattered by the personal notoriety implied in this
familiar form of address, answered, with something like a knowing look,
'I should believe you could, sir,' and was turning over in his mind
various forms of eulogium, with the view of selecting one appropriate to
the qualities of his best bed, when his ideas were put to flight by Mr
Chester giving Barnaby the letter, and bidding him make all speed away.
'Speed!' said Barnaby, folding the little packet in his breast, 'Speed!
If you want to see hurry and mystery, come here. Here!'
With that, he put his hand, very much to John Willet's horror, on the
guest's fine broadcloth sleeve, and led him stealthily to the back
window.
'Look down there,' he said softly; 'do you mark how they whisper in each
other's ears; then dance and leap, to make believe they are in sport?
Do you see how they stop for a moment, when they think there is no one
looking, and mutter among themselves again; and then how they roll and
gambol, delighted with the mischief they've been plotting? Look at
'em now.
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