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chuckled audibly。
‘Why； father！’ cried Joe； entering at the moment； ‘you’re in
spirits to…day！’
‘It’s nothing partickler；’ said Mr Willet； chuckling again。 ‘It’s
nothing at all partickler； Joseph。 Tell me something about the
Salwanners。’ Having preferred this request； Mr Willet chuckled a
third time； and after these unusual demonstrations of levity； he
put his pipe in his mouth again。
‘What shall I tell you； father？’ asked Joe； laying his hand upon
his sire’s shoulder； and looking down into his face。 ‘That I have
come back； poorer than a church mouse？ You know that。 That I
have come back； maimed and crippled？ You know that。’
‘It was took off；’ muttered Mr Willet； with his eyes upon the fire；
‘at the defence of the Salwanners； in America； where the war is。’
‘Quite right；’ returned Joe； smiling； and leaning with his
remaining elbow on the back of his father’s chair； ‘the very subject
I came to speak to you about。 A man with one arm； father； is not of
much use in the busy world。’
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This was one of those vast propositions which Mr Willet had
never considered for an instant； and required time to ‘tackle。’
Wherefore he made no answer。
‘At all events；’ said Joe； ‘he can’t pick and choose his means of
earning a livelihood； as another man may。 He can’t say “I will turn
my hand to this；” or “I won’t turn my hand to that；” but must take
what he can do； and be thankful it’s no worse。—What did you say？’
Mr Willet had been softly repeating to himself； in a musing
tone； the words ‘defence of the Salwanners：’ but he seemed
embarrassed at having been overheard； and answered ‘Nothing。’
‘Now look here； father。—Mr Edward has come to England from
the West Indies。 When he was lost sight of （I ran away on the same
day； father）； he made a voyage to one of the islands； where a
school…friend of his had settled； and； finding him； wasn’t too proud
to be employed on his estate； and—and in short； got on well； and is
prospering； and has come over here on business of his own； and is
going back again speedily。 Our returning nearly at the same time；
and meeting in the course of the late troubles； has been a good
thing every way； for it has not only enabled us to do old friends
some service； but has opened a path in life for me which I may
tread without being a burden upon you。 To be plain； father； he can
employ me； I have satisfied myself that I can be of real use to him；
and I am going to carry my one arm away with him； and to make
the most of it。
In the mind’s eye of Mr Willet； the West Indies； and indeed all
foreign countries； were inhabited by savage nations； who were
perpetually burying pipes of peace； flourishing tomahawks； and
puncturing strange patterns in their bodies。 He no sooner heard
this announcement； therefore； than he leaned back in his chair；
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took his pipe from his lips； and stared at his son with as much
dismay as if he already beheld him tied to a stake； and tortured for
the entertainment of a lively population。 In what form of
expression his feelings would have found a vent； it is impossible to
say。 Nor is it necessary： for； before a syllable occurred to him；
Dolly Varden came running into the room； in tears； threw herself
on Joe’s breast without a word of explanation； and clasped her
white arms round his neck。
‘Dolly！’ cried Joe。 ‘Dolly！’
‘Ay； call me that； call me that always；’ exclaimed the locksmith’s
little daughter； ‘never speak coldly to me； never be distant； never
again reprove me for the follies I have long repented； or I shall die；
Joe。’
‘I reprove you！’ said Joe。
‘Yes—for every kind and honest word you uttered； went to my
heart。 For you； who have borne so much from me—for you； who
owe your sufferings and pain to my caprice—for you to be so
kind—so noble to me； Joe—’
He could say nothing to her。 Not a syllable。 There was an odd
sort of eloquence in his one arm； which had crept round her waist：
but his lips were mute。
‘If you had reminded me by a word—only by one short word；’
sobbed Dolly； clinging yet closer to him； ‘how little I deserved that
you should treat me with so much forbearance； if you had exulted
only for one moment in your triumph； I could have borne it better。’
‘Triumph！’ repeated Joe； with a smile which seemed to say； ‘I
am a pretty figure for that。’
‘Yes； triumph；’ she cried； with her whole heart and soul in her
earnest voice； and gushing tears； ‘for it is one。 I am glad to think
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and know it is。 I wouldn’t be less humbled； dear—I wouldn’t be
without the recollection of that last time we spoke together in this
place—no； not if I could recall the past； and make our parting；
yesterday。’
Did ever lover look as Joe looked now！
‘Dear Joe；’ said Dolly； ‘I always loved you—in my own heart I
always did； although I was so vain and giddy。 I hoped you would
come back that night。 I made quite sure you would。 I prayed for it
on my knees。 Through all these long； long years； I have never once
forgotten you； or left off hoping that this happy time might come。’
The eloquence of Joe’s arm surpassed the most impassioned
language； and so did that of his lips—yet he said nothing； either。
‘And now； at last；’ cried Dolly； trembling with the fervour of her
speech； ‘if you were sick； and shattered in your every limb； if you
were ailing； weak； and sorrowful； if； instead of being what you are；
you were in everybody’s eyes but mine the wreck and ruin of a
man； I would be your wife； dear love； with greater pride and joy；
than if you were the stateliest lord in Eng