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Yes, Maam, he returned. I giv the promise to Emly, afore I come away. You see, I doent grow younger as the years comes round, and if I hadnt sailed as twas, most like I shouldnt never have donet. And its allus been on my mind, as I must come and see Masr Davy and your own sweet blooming self, in your wedded happiness, afore I got to be too old. He looked at us, as if he could never feast his eyes on us sufficiently. Agnes laughingly put back some scattered locks of his gray hair, that he might see us better. And now tell us, said I, everything relating to your fortunes. Our fortuns, Masr Davy, he rejoined, is soon told. We havent fared nohows, but fared to thrive. Weve allus thrived. Weve worked as we ought tot, and maybe we lived a leetle hard at first or so, but we have allus thrived. What with sheep-farming, and what with stock-farming, and what with one thing and what with tother, we are as well to do as well could be. Theers been kiender a blessing fell upon us, said Mr. Peggotty, reverentially inclining his head, and weve done nowt but prosper. That is, in the long run. If not yesterday, why then to-day. If not to-day, why then to-morrow. And Emily? said Agnes and I, both together. Emly, said he, arter you left her, Maamand I never heerd her saying of her prayers at night, tother side the canvas screen, when we was settled in the Bush, but what I heerd your nameand arter she and me lost sight of Masr Davy, that theer shining sundownwas that low, at first, that, if she had knowd then what Masr Davy kep from us so kind and thowtful, tis my opinion shed have drooped away. But theer was some poor folks aboard as had illness among em, and she took care of them; and theer was the children in our company, and she took care of them; and so she got to be busy, and to be doing good, and that helped her. When did she first hear of it? I asked. I kep it from her arter I heerd ont, said Mr. Peggotty, going on nigh a year. We was living then in a solitary place, but among the beautifullest trees, and with the roses a-covering our Beein to the roof. Theer come along one day, when I was out a-working on the land, a traveller from our own Norfolk or Suffolk in England (I doent rightly mind which), and of course we took him in, and giv him to eat and drink, and made him welcome. We all do that, all the colony over. Hed got an old newspaper with him, and some other account in print of the storm. Thats how she knowd it. When I come home at night, I found she knowd it. He dropped his voice as he said these words, and the gravity I so well remembered overspread his face. Did it change her much? we asked. Ay, for a good long time, he said, shaking his head; if not to this present hour. But I think the solitoode done her good. And she had a deal to mind in the way of poultry and the like, and minded of it, and come through. I wonder, he said thoughtfully, if you could see my Emly now, Masr Davy, whether youd know her! Is she so altered? I inquired. I doent know. I see her evry day, and doent know; but, odd-times, I have thowt so. A slight figure, said Mr. Peggotty, looking at the fire, kiender worn; soft, sorrowful blue eyes; a delicate face; a pritty head, leaning a little down; a quiet voice and waytimid amost. Thats Emly! We silently observed him as he sat, still looking at the fire. |
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