It was pleas-
ant to see him, with his tender awkwardness, endeav-
ouring to adapt his rude support to her slight need,
and make his burly middle-age a leaning-staff not
inappropriate to her blooming youth. It was pleasant
to observe how Tilly Slowboy, waiting in the back-
ground for the baby, took especial cognizance (though
in her earliest teens) of this grouping; and stood with
her mouth and eyes wide open, and her head thrust
forward, taking it in as if it were air. Nor was it
less agreeable to observe how John the Carrier, refer-
ence being made by Dot to the aforesaid baby, checked
his hand when on the point of touching the infant,
as if he thought he might crack it; and bending down,
surveyed it from a safe distance, with a kind of
puzzled pride, such as an amiable mastiff might be
supposed to show, if he found himself, one day, the
father of a young canary.
'An't he beautiful, John? Don't he look precious
in his sleep?'
'Very precious,' said John. 'Very much so. He
generally is asleep, an't he?'
'Lor, John! Good gracious no!'
'Oh,' said John, pondering.
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