'Oh certainly!' said Tackleton. 'Oh to be sure.
Oh it's all right. It's quite correct. Mrs. Edward
Plummer, I infer?'
'That's the name,' returned the bridegroom
'Ah, I shouldn't have known you, sir,' said Tackle-
ton, scrutinising his face narrowly, and making a low
bow. I give you joy, sir!'
'Thank ee.'
'Mrs. Peerybingle,' said Tackleton, turning sud-
denly to where she stood with her husband; 'I am
sorry. You haven't done me a very great kindness
but, upon my life, I am sorry. You are better than
I thought you. John Peerybingle, I am sorry. You
understand me; that's enough. It's quite correct
ladies and gentlemen all, and perfectly satisfactory.
Good-morning!'
With these words he carried it off, and carried him-
self off too: merely stopping at the door, to take the
flowers and favours from his horse's head, and to kick
that animal once, in the ribs, as a means of informing
him that there was a screw loose in his arrangements.
Of course it became a serious duty now, to make
such a day of it, as should mark these events for a
high Feast and Festival in the Peerybingle Calendar
for evermore.
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