And when I used to fear -- I did fear once, John.
I was very young you know -- that ours might prove
to be an ill-assorted marriage, I being such a child,
and you more like my guardian than my husband;
and that you might not, however hard you tried, be
able to learn to love me, as you hoped and prayed
you might; its Chirp, Chirp, Chirp has cheered me
up again, and filled me with new trust and confidence.
I was thinking of these things to-night, dear, when
I sat expecting you; and I love the Cricket for their
sake!'
'And so do I,' repeated John. 'But Dot? I hope
and pray that I might learn to love you? How you
talk! I had learnt that, long before I brought you
here, to be the Cricket's little mistress, Dot!'
She laid her hand, an instant. on his arm, and
looked up at him with an agitated face, as if she
would have told him something. Next moment she
was down upon her knees before the basket, speaking
in a sprightly voice, and busy with the parcels.
'There are not many of them to-night, John, but
I saw some goods behind the cart, just now; and
though they give more trouble, perhaps, still they
pay as well; so we have no reason to grumble, have
we? Besides, you have been delivering, I dare say,
as you came along?'
'Oh yes,' John said.
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