Matters having now arrived at a crisis, the
locksmith, as usual, and for the sake of peace and quietness, gave in.
'What are you crying for, girl?' he said. 'What's the matter with you?
What are you talking about hatred for? I don't hate you; I don't hate
anybody. Dry your eyes and make yourself agreeable, in Heaven's name,
and let us all be happy while we can.'
The allied powers deeming it good generalship to consider this a
sufficient apology on the part of the enemy, and confession of having
been in the wrong, did dry their eyes and take it in good part. Miss
Miggs observed that she bore no malice, no not to her greatest foe, whom
she rather loved the more indeed, the greater persecution she sustained.
Mrs Varden approved of this meek and forgiving spirit in high terms,
and incidentally declared as a closing article of agreement, that Dolly
should accompany her to the Clerkenwell branch of the association, that
very night. This was an extraordinary instance of her great prudence and
policy; having had this end in view from the first, and entertaining
a secret misgiving that the locksmith (who was bold when Dolly was in
question) would object, she had backed Miss Miggs up to this point, in
order that she might have him at a disadvantage.
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