Dicken's Works Author:Charles Dickens Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: his hand upon his breast, " not a 'prentice, not a workman, not a slave, not the wictim of your father's tyrannical behavior, but the leader of a great people, t... more »he captain of a noble band, in which these gentlemen are, as I may say, corporals and sergeants. You behold in me, not a private individual, but a public character; not a mender of locks, but a healer of the wounds of his unhappy country. Dolly V., sweet Dolly V., for how many years have I looked forward to this present meeting! For how many years has it been my intention to exalt and ennoble you! I redeem it. Behold in me your husband. Yes, beautiful Dolly — charmer — enslaver — S. Tappertit is all your own!" As he said these words he advanced towards her. Dolly retreated till she could go no farther, and then sank down upon the floor. Thinking it very possible that this might be maiden modesty, Simon essayed to raise her; on which Dolly, goaded to desperation, wound her hands in his hair, and crying out amidst her tears that he was a dreadful little wretch, and always had been, shook, and pulled, and beat him until he was fain to call for help most lustily. Hugh had never admired her half so much as at that moment. " She's in an excited state to-night," said Simon as he smoothed his rumpled feathers, " and don't know when she's well off. Let her be by herself till to-morrow, and that'll bring her down a little. Carry her into the next house ! " Hugh had her in his arms directly. It might be that Mr. Tappertit's heart was really softened by her distress, or it might be that he felt it in some degree indecorous that his intended bride should bestruggling in the grasp of another man. He conv manded him, on second thoughts, to put her down again, and looked moodily on as she flew to Miss Haredale's side, and, clingi...« less