But, trivial things, in-
vented and pursued for bread, become very serious
matters of fact; and, apart from this consideration,
I am not at all prepared to say, myself, that if Caleb
had been a Lord Chamberlain, or a Member of Parlia-
ment, or a lawyer, or even a great speculator, he
would have dealt in toys one whit less whimsical,
while I have a very great doubt whether they would
have been as harmless.
'So you were out in the rain last night, father, in
your beautiful new great-coat,' said Caleb's daughter.
'In my beautiful new great-coat,' answered Caleb,
glancing towards a clothes-line in the room, on which
the sack-cloth garment previously described, was
carefully hung up to dry.
'How glad I am you bought it, father!'
'And of such a tailor, too,' said Caleb. 'Quite a
fashionable tailor. It's too good for me.'
The Blind Girl rested from her work, and laughed
with delight. 'Too good, father! What can be too
good for you?'
'I'm half ashamed to wear it though,' said Caleb,
watching the effect of what he said, upon her bright-
ening face; 'upon my word! When I hear the boys
and people say behind me, "Halloa! Here's a swell!"
I don't know which way to look.
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