The Battle of Life | Page 8

a winter-pippin, with here and there a
dimple to express the peckings of the birds, and a very little bit of pigtail behind that
stood for the stalk.
As the active figure of a handsome young man, dressed for a journey, and followed by a
porter bearing several packages and baskets, entered the orchard at a brisk pace, and with
an air of gaiety and hope that accorded well with the morning, these three drew together,

like the brothers of the sister Fates, or like the Graces most effectually disguised, or like
the three weird prophets on the heath, and greeted him.
'Happy returns, Alf!' said the Doctor, lightly.
'A hundred happy returns of this auspicious day, Mr. Heathfield!' said Snitchey, bowing
low.
'Returns!' Craggs murmured in a deep voice, all alone.
'Why, what a battery!' exclaimed Alfred, stopping short, 'and one - two - three - all
foreboders of no good, in the great sea before me. I am glad you are not the first I have
met this morning: I should have taken it for a bad omen. But, Grace was the first - sweet,
pleasant Grace - so I defy you all!'
'If you please, Mister, I was the first you know,' said Clemency Newcome. 'She was
walking out here, before sunrise, you remember. I was in the house.'
'That's true! Clemency was the first,' said Alfred. 'So I defy you with Clemency.'
'Ha, ha, ha, - for Self and Craggs,' said Snitchey. 'What a defiance!'
'Not so bad a one as it appears, may be,' said Alfred, shaking hands heartily with the
Doctor, and also with Snitchey and Craggs, and then looking round. 'Where are the -
Good Heavens!'
With a start, productive for the moment of a closer partnership between Jonathan
Snitchey and Thomas Craggs than the subsisting articles of agreement in that wise
contemplated, he hastily betook himself to where the sisters stood together, and -
however, I needn't more particularly explain his manner of saluting Marion first, and
Grace afterwards, than by hinting that Mr. Craggs may possibly have considered it 'too
easy.'
Perhaps to change the subject, Dr. Jeddler made a hasty move towards the breakfast, and
they all sat down at table. Grace presided; but so discreetly stationed herself, as to cut off
her sister and Alfred from the rest of the company. Snitchey and Craggs sat at opposite
corners, with the blue bag between them for safety; the Doctor took his usual position,
opposite to Grace. Clemency hovered galvanically about the table, as waitress; and the
melancholy Britain, at another and a smaller board, acted as Grand Carver of a round of
beef and a ham.
'Meat?' said Britain, approaching Mr. Snitchey, with the carving knife and fork in his
hands, and throwing the question at him like a missile.
'Certainly,' returned the lawyer.
'Do YOU want any?' to Craggs.
'Lean and well done,' replied that gentleman.
Having executed these orders, and moderately supplied the Doctor (he seemed to know
that nobody else wanted anything to eat), he lingered as near the Firm as he decently
could, watching with an austere eye their disposition of the viands, and but once relaxing
the severe expression of his face. This was on the occasion of Mr. Craggs, whose teeth
were not of the best, partially choking, when he cried out with great animation, 'I thought
he was gone!'
'Now, Alfred,' said the Doctor, 'for a word or two of business, while we are yet at
breakfast.'
'While we are yet at breakfast,' said Snitchey and Craggs, who seemed to have no present
idea of leaving off.
Although Alfred had not been breakfasting, and seemed to have quite enough business on

his hands as it was, he respectfully answered:
'If you please, sir.'
'If anything could be serious,' the Doctor began, 'in such a - '
'Farce as this, sir,' hinted Alfred.
'In such a farce as this,' observed the Doctor, 'it might be this recurrence, on the eve of
separation, of a double birthday, which is connected with many associations pleasant to
us four, and with the recollection of a long and amicable intercourse. That's not to the
purpose.'
'Ah! yes, yes, Dr. Jeddler,' said the young man. 'It is to the purpose. Much to the purpose,
as my heart bears witness this morning; and as yours does too, I know, if you would let it
speak. I leave your house to-day; I cease to be your ward to-day; we part with tender
relations stretching far behind us, that never can be exactly renewed, and with others
dawning - yet before us,' he looked down at Marion beside him, 'fraught with such
considerations as I must not trust myself to speak of now. Come, come!' he added,
rallying his spirits and the Doctor at