How  bright  the  darkened  face  I  How  adorned  with
light,  the  listening  head  I

^This  is  the  £y  on  which  little  what's-her-name,
the  spoilt  child,  Peerybingle's  wife,  pays  her  regular
visit  to  you — makes  her  fantastic  Fic-Nic  here,  a'n't
it?"  said  Tackleton,  with  a  strong  expression  of  dis-
taste for  the  whole  concern.
**  Yes,"  replied  Bertha.     "  This  is  the  day."

^I  thought  so,"  said  Tackleton.  ^I  should  like  to
join  the  party."

<^Do  you  hear  that,  father!"  cried  the  Blind  Girl,
in  an  ecstasy.
"  Yes,  yes,  I  hear  it,"  murmured  Galeb,  with  the  fixed
look  of  a  sleep-walker ;  "  but  I  don't  believe  it  It's
one  of  my  lies,  I've  no  doubt"

"You  see  I  —  I. want  to  bring  the  Peerybingles  a
little  more  into  company  with  May  Fielding,"  said
Tackleton.     "I  am  going  to  be  married  to* May."

^^ Married!"  cried  the  Blind  Girl,  starting  from
him.
^  She's  such  a  con-founded  idiot,'*  muttered  Tackletoui
**that  I  was  afraid  she'd  never  comprehend  me.     Ah,


272  THE  CRICKET  ON  THE  HEA&TH.
Bertha !  Married !  Churchy  parson,  clerk,  beadle,
glass-coach,  bells,  breakfast,  bride-cake,  favors,  marrow-
bones,  cleavers,  and  all  the  rest  of  the  tomfoolerj.  A
wedding,  you  know  ;  a  wedding.  Don't  jou  know  what
a  wedding  is  ?  '*

^1  know,"  replied  the  Blind  Girl,  in  a  gentle  tone.
«  J  understand  I "

"  Do  you  ? "  muttered  Tackleton.  "  It's  more  than
I  expected.  Well !  On  that  account  I  want  to  join
the  party,  and  to  bring  May  and  her  mother.  I'll
send  in  a  little  something  or  other,  before  the  after-
noon. A  cold  leg  of  mutton,  or  some  comfortable  trifle
of  that  sort    You'll  expect  me  ?  "

"Yes,"  she  answered.
