第142章

`There, go along!' retorted Merry, pushing him away. `I'm sure I don't know what I shall ever do, if I have to see much of you. Go along, for gracious' sake!'

Mr. Pecksniff striking in here, with a request that Mr. Jonas would immediately walk up-stairs, he so far complied with the young lady's adjuration as to go at once. But though he had the fair Cherry on his arm, he could not help looking back at her sister, and exchanging some further dialogue of the same bantering description, as they all four ascended to the parlour; where--for the young ladies happened, by good fortune, to be a little later than usual that night--the teaboard was at that moment being set out.

Mr. Pinch was not at home, so they had it all to themselves, and were very snug and talkative, Jonas sitting between the two sisters, and displaying his gallantry in that engaging manner which was peculiar to him. It was a hard thing, Mr. Pecksniff said, when tea was done, and cleared away, to leave so pleasant a little party, but having some important papers to examine in his own apartment, he must beg them to excuse him for half an hour. With this apology he withdrew, singing a careless strain as he went.

He had not been gone five minutes, when Merry, who had been sitting in the window, apart from Jonas and her sister, burst into a half-smothered laugh, and skipped towards the door.

`Hallo!' cried Jonas. `Don't go.'

`Oh, I dare say!' rejoined Merry, looking back. `You're very anxious I should stay, fright, ain't you?'

`Yes, I am,' said Jonas. `Upon my word I am. I want to speak to you.'

But as she left the room notwithstanding, he ran out after her, and brought her back, after a short struggle in the passage which scandalised Miss Cherry very much.

`Upon my word, Merry,' urged that young lady, `I wonder at your There are bounds even to absurdity, my dear.'

`Thank you, my sweet,' said Merry, pursing up her rosy Lips. `Much obliged to it for its advice. Oh! do leave me alone, you monster, do!' This entreaty was wrung from her by a new proceeding on the part of Mr. Jonas, who pulled her down, all breathless as she was, into a seat beside him on the sofa, having at the same time Miss Cherry upon the other side.

`Now,' said Jonas, clasping the waist of each: `I have got both arms full, haven't I?'

`One of them will be black and blue to-morrow, if you don't let me go,' cried the playful Merry.

`Ah! I don't mind your pinching,' grinned Jonas, `a bit.'

`Pinch him for me, Cherry, pray,' said Mercy. `I never did hate anybody so much as I hate this creature, I declare!'

`No, no, don't say that,' urged Jonas, `and don't pinch either, because I want to be serious. I say! Cousin Charity!'

`Well! what?' she answered sharply.

`I want to have some sober talk,' said Jonas: `I want to prevent any mistakes, you know, and to put everything upon a pleasant understanding.

That's desirable and proper, ain't it?'

Neither of the sisters spoke a word. Mr. Jonas paused and cleared his throat, which was very dry.

`She'll not believe what I am going to say, will she, cousin?' said Jonas, timidly squeezing Miss Charity.

`Really, Mr. Jonas, I don't know, until I hear what it is. It's quite impossible!'

`Why, you see,' said Jonas, `her way always being to make game of people, I know she'll laugh, or pretend to; I know that, before-hand. But you can tell her I'm in earnest, cousin; can't you? You'll confess you know, won't you? You'll be honourable, I'm sure,' he added persuasively.

No answer. His throat seemed to grow hotter and hotter, and to be more and more difficult of control.

`You see, Cousin Charity,' said Jonas, `nobody but you can tell her what pains I took to get into her company when you were both at the boarding-house in the city because nobody's so well aware of it, you know. Nobody else can tell her how hard I tried to get to know you better, in order that I might get to know her without seeming to wish it. can they? I always asked you about her, and said where had she gone, and when would she come, and how lively she was, and all that; didn't I, cousin? I know you'll tell her so, if you haven't told her so already, and--and--I dare say you have, because I'm sure you're honourable, ain't you?'

Still not a word. The right arm of Mr. Jonas--the elder sister sat upon his right--may have been sensible of some tumultuous throbbing which was not within itself; but nothing else apprised him that his words had had the least effect.

`Even if you kept it to yourself, and haven't told her,' resumed Jonas, `it don't much matter, because you'll bear honest witness now; won't you?

We've been very good friends from the first; haven't we? And of course we shall be quite friends in future, and so I don't mind speaking before you a bit. Cousin Mercy, you've heard what I've been saying. She'll confirm it, every word: she must. Will you have me for your husband? Eh?'

As he released his hold of Charity, to put this question with better effect, she started up and hurried away to her own room, marking her progress as she went by such a train of passionate and incoherent sound, as nothing but a slighted woman in her anger could produce.

`Let me go away. Let me go after her,' said Merry, pushing him off, and giving him--to tell the truth--more than one sounding slap upon his outstretched face.

`Not till you say Yes. You haven't told me. Will you have me for your husband?'

`No, I won't. I can't bear the sight of you. I have told you so a hundred times. You are a fright. Besides, I always thought you liked my sister best. We all thought so.'

`But that wasn't my fault,' said Jonas.

`Yes it was; you know it was.'

`Any trick is fair in love,' said Jonas. `She may have thought I liked her best, but you didn't.'

`I did!'

`No, you didn't. You never could have thought I liked her best, when you were by.'

`There's no accounting for tastes,' said Merry; `at least I didn't mean to say that. I don't know what I mean. Let me go to her.'

`Say "Yes," and then I will.'

`If I ever brought myself to say so, it should only be that I might hate and tease you all my life.'