mpered.

Women are swift at coming to conclusions in these matters; soft women
exceedingly swift: and soft women who have been betrayed are rapid
beyond measure. Mrs. Berry had not cogitated long ere she pronounced
distinctly and without a shadow of dubiosity: "My opinion is--married
or not married, and wheresomever he pick her up--she's nothin' more
nor less than a Bella Donna!" as which poisonous plant she forthwith
registered the lady in the botanical note-book of her brain. It would
have astonished Mrs. Mount to have heard her person so accurately hit
off at a glance.

In the evening Richard made good his promise, accompanied by Ripton.
Mrs. Berry opened the door to them. She could not wait to get him
into the parlour. "You're my own blessed babe; and I'm as good as your
mother, though I didn't suck ye, bein' a maid!" she cried, falling into
his arms, while Richard did his best to support the unexpected burden.
Then reproaching him tenderly for his guile--at mention of which Ripton
chuckled, deeming it his own most honourable portion of the plot--Mrs.
Berry led them into the parlour, and revealed to Richard who she was,
and how she had tossed him, and hugged him, and kissed him all over,
when he was only that big--showing him her stumpy fat arm. "I kissed ye
from head to tail, I did," said Mrs. Berry, "and you needn't be ashamed
of it. It's be hoped you'll never have nothin' worse come t'ye, my
dear!"

Richard assured her he was not a bit ashamed, but warned her that she
must not do it now, Mrs. Berry admitting it was out of the question now,
and now that he had a wife, moreover. The young men laughed, and Ripton
laughing over-loudly drew on himself Mrs. Berry's attention: "But
that Mr. Thompson there--however he can look me in the face after his
inn'cence! helping blindfold an old woman! though I ain't sorry for
what I did--that I'm free for to say, and its' over, and blessed be all!
Amen! So now where is she and how is she, Mr. Richard, my dear--it's
only cuttin' off the 's' and you are as you was.--Why didn't ye bring
her with ye to see her old Berry?"

Richard hurriedly explained that Lucy was still in the Isle of Wight.

"Oh! and you've left her for a day or two?" said Mrs. Berry.

"Good God! I wish it had been a day or two," cried Richard.

"Ah! and how long have it been?" asked Mrs. Berry, her heart beginning
to beat at his manner of speaking.

"Don't talk about it," said Richard.

"Oh! you never b