But after that, he
recovered himself, and went home with as beneficent an air as if he had
been the High Priest of the summer weather.
'I have arranged to go, Papa,' said Charity, 'to-morrow.'
'So soon, my child!'
'I can't go too soon,' said Charity, 'under the circumstances. I have
written to Mrs Todgers to propose an arrangement, and have requested her
to meet me at the coach, at all events. You'll be quite your own master
now, Mr Pinch!'
Mr Pecksniff had just gone out of the room, and Tom had just come into
it.
'My own master!' repeated Tom.
'Yes, you'll have nobody to interfere with you,' said Charity. 'At least
I hope you won't. Hem! It's a changing world.'
'What! are YOU going to be married, Miss Pecksniff?' asked Tom in great
surprise.
'Not exactly,' faltered Cherry. 'I haven't made up my mind to be. I
believe I could be, if I chose, Mr Pinch.'
'Of course you could!' said Tom. And he said it in perfect good faith.
He believed it from the bottom of his heart.
'No,' said Cherry, 'I am not going to be married. Nobody is, that I know
of. Hem! But I am not going to live with Papa.
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