"My dear young friend!" he cried. "My dear but mistaken young friend, you distress me infinitely. You do not think--it cannot be possible that you think that this poor child has--has formed any such--such monstrous conception? If I thought so, I should resign my being,--a--cease upon the midnight, not without pain, but unspeakably the reverse. It is a most extraordinary thing that twice within a single summer I should have been exposed, sir, to a misapprehension of this amazing, this--a--portentous, this--a--unspeakably inauspicious description. I am not a marrying man, Thomas. Though regarding the Sex with the deepest veneration, sir, I have for many years regarded it across a gulf, if I may so express myself; a chasm, sir; a--a--maelstrom of separation, to speak strongly. Your suggestion fills me with pain; with--anguish; with--a--gorgons and chimera dire--meaning no disparagement to the young person in question. I had thought, Thomas,--I had conceived,--I had formed the apprehension, sir, that she was attached to you, and that you admitted the soft impeachment; that your heart responded to the--a--soft flutings of the tender passion. I thought to see you wedded, and sharing my home, being as son and daughter to me. I--I--I--" Mr. Homer's voice faltered. But Tommy Candy caught the distressedly waving hands in his. "Mr. Homer," he cried, with a broken laugh, "don't, sir! don't take on! I'm a fool, that's all, the biggest fool the world holds this minute. I've loved Annie Lizzie ever since I was ten years old, and I believe she has me." CHAPTER XVII. THE LAST WORD "Come back, have they?" said Seth Weaver. Seth was painting the outside of Miss Penny Pardon's shop, and Miss Penny was hopping in and out, hovering about the door like a lame robin, dividing her attention between Seth and the birds. "Wal, have 'em a good time, did they?" "Elegant!" replied Miss Penny, joyously. "They had them an elegant time, Seth. Miss Wax--There! look at me! and I said 'Mis' Hollopeter' just as slick when she come in! She was in this mornin', to tell Sister about the latest styles. I thought 'twas real kind of her, with all she had to think of in her golden joy. Folks _is_ so kind, I don't see how it comes to be such a wicked world as some calls it. Well, she told us all about it. They went to Niag'ry Falls first. He was wishful to take her to Washin'ton, but she said Nature come first in her eyes, even before Gov'ment; she has fine thoughts, and an elegant way of expressin' 'em, I always think. There! she said the Falls was handsome! 'twas beyond the power of thought, she said. Ain't you gettin' jest a dite too much red in that trimmin', Seth?" "I guess not!" said Seth. "You don't want it to look like you was advertisin' a new brand of mustard, do ye? Where else did they go?"