Not as
good wives are, when listening for their husbands.
No, no, no. It was another sort of restlessness from
that.
Wheels heard. A horse's feet. The barking of a
dog. The gradual approach of all the sounds. The
scratching paw of Boxer at the door!
'Whose step is that!' cried Bertha, starting up.
'Whose step?' returned the Carrier, standing in the
portal, with his browr face ruddy as a winter berry
from the keen night air. 'Why, mine.'
'The other step,' said Bertha. 'The man's tread
behind you!'
'She is not to be deceived,' observed the Carrier,
laughing. 'Come along, sir. You'll be welcome
never fear!'
He spoke in a loud tone; and as he spoke, the deaf
old gentleman entered.
He's not so much a stranger, that you haven't seen
him once, Caleb,' said the Carrier. 'You give him
house-room till we go?'
'Oh surely, John, and take it as an honour.'
'He's the best company on earth, to talk secrets in,'
said John. 'I have reasonable good lungs, but he
tries 'em, I can tell you. Sit down, sir. All friends
here, and glad to see you!'
When he had imparted this assurance, in a voice
that amply corroborated what he had said about his
lungs, he added in his natural tone, 'A chair in the
chimney-corner, and leave to sit quite silent and look
pleasantly about him, is all he cares for.
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