thanked him.

  'Dear, Caleb,' said the Carrier. 'Very dear at this
season.'

  'Never mind that. It would be cheap to me, what-
ever it cost,' returned the little man. 'Anything else,
John?'

  'A small box,' replied the Carrier. 'Here you are!'

  ' "For Caleb Plummer," ' said the little man, spell-
ing out the direction. ' "With Cash." With Cash,
John. I don't think it's for me.'

  'With Care,' returned the Carrier, looking over his
shoulder. 'Where do you make out cash?'

  'Oh! To be sure!' said Caleb. 'It's all right.
With care! Yes, yes; that's mine. It might have
been with cash, indeed, if my dear Boy in the Golden
South Americas had lived, John. You loved him
like a son; didn't you? You needn't say did. I
know, of course. "Caleb Plummer. With care."
Yes, yes, it's all right. It's a box of dolls' eyes for
my daughter's work. I wish it was her own sight in
a box, John.'

  'I wish it was, or could be!' cried the Carrier.

  'Thank 'ee,' said the little man. 'You speak very
hearty. To think that she should never see the Dolls
-- and them a-staring at her, so bold, all day long!
That's where it cuts. What's the damage, John?'

  'I'll damage you,' said John, 'if you inquire. Dot!
Very near?

  'Well! it's like you to say so,' observed the little
man. 'It's your kind way. Let me see. I think
that's all.'

  'I think not,' said the Carrier. 'Try again.'

  'Something for our Governor, eh?' said Caleb, after
pondering a little while. 'To be sure. That's what
I came for; but my head's so running on them Arks
and things! He hasn't been here, has he?'

  'Not he,' returned the Carrier. 'He's too busy,
courting.'

  'He's coming round though,' said Caleb; 'for he
told me to keep on the near side of the road going
home, and it was ten to one he'd take me up. I had
better go, by the bye. -- You couldn't have the good-
ness to let me pinch Boxer's tail, Mum, for half a
moment, could you?'

  'Why, Caleb! what a question!'

  'Oh never mind, Mum,' said the little man. 'He
mightn't like it perhaps. There's a small order just
come in, for barking dogs; and I should wish to go as
close to Natur' as I could, for sixpence. That's all.
Never mind, Mum.'

  It happened opportunely, that Boxer, without re-
ceiving the proposed stimulus, began to bark with
great zeal. But, as this implied the approach of some
new visitor, Caleb, postponing his study from the
life to a more convenient season, shouldered the
round box, and took a hurried leave. He might have
spared himself the trouble, for he met the visitor upon
the threshold.

  'Oh! You are here, are you? Wait a bit. I'll
take you home. John Peerybingle, my service to
you. More of my service to your pretty wife. Hand-
somer every day! Better too, if possible! And
younger,' mused the speaker, in a low voice; 'that's
the Devil of it!'

  'I should be astonished at your paying compli-
ments, Mr. Tackleton,' said Dot, not with the best
grace in the world; 'but for your condition.'

 'You know all about it then?'

  'I have got myself to believe it, somehow,' said Dot.

  'After a hard struggle, I suppose?'

  'Very.'

  Tackleton the Toy-merchant, pretty generally
known as Gruff and Tackleton -- for that was the
firm, though Gruff had been bought out long ago;
only leaving his name, and as some said his nature,
according to its Dictionary meaning, in the business