And , with those words , he walked off . There was some surprise among the company , as you may imagine . Mrs. Fielding , being a lady of infinite discernment , suggested that the cake was poisoned , and related a narrative of a cake which , within her knowledge , had turned a seminary for young ladies blue . But she was overruled by acclamation ; and the cake was cut by May with much ceremony and rejoicing . I do n't think any one had tasted it , when there came another tap at the door , and the same man appeared again , having under his arm a vast brown-paper parcel . `` Mr. Tackleton 's compliments , and he 's sent a few toys for the Babby . They ai n't ugly . '' After the delivery of which expressions , he retired again . The whole party would have experienced great difficulty in finding words for their astonishment , even if they had had ample time to seek them . But they had none at all ; for the messenger had scarcely shut the door behind him , when there came another tap , and Tackleton himself walked in . `` Mrs. Peerybingle ! '' said the toy merchant , hat in hand , `` I 'm sorry . I 'm more sorry than I was this morning . I have had time to think of it . John Peerybingle ! I am sour by disposition ; but I ca n't help being sweetened , more or less , by coming face to face with such a man as you . Caleb ! This unconscious little nurse gave me a broken hint last night , of which I have found the thread . I blush to think how easily I might have bound you and your daughter to me , and what a miserable idiot I was when I took her for one ! Friends , one and all , my house is very lonely to-night .
I have not so much XXXXX a Cricket on my Hearth .
After as at by for than that to under with