Only let me make the tea first , John ; and then I 'll help you with the parcels , like a busy bee . ` How doth the little ' -- and all the rest of it , you know , John . Did you ever learn ` How doth the little , ' when you went to school , John ? '' `` Not to quite know it , '' John returned . `` I was very near it once . But I should only have spoilt it , I dare say . '' `` Ha , ha ! '' laughed Dot . She had the blithest little laugh you ever heard . `` What a dear old darling of a dunce you are , John , to be sure ! '' Not at all disputing this position , John went out to see that the boy with the lantern , which had been dancing to and fro before the door and window , like a Will of the Wisp , took due care of the horse ; who was fatter than you would quite believe , if I gave you his measure , and so old that his birthday was lost in the mists of antiquity . Boxer , feeling that his attentions were due to the family in general , and must be impartially distributed , dashed in and out with bewildering inconstancy ; now describing a circle of short barks round the horse , where he was being rubbed down at the stable door ; now feigning to make savage rushes at his mistress , and facetiously bringing himself to sudden stops ; now eliciting a shriek from Tilly Slowboy , in the low nursing-chair near the fire , by the unexpected application of his moist nose to her countenance ; now exhibiting an obtrusive interest in the baby ; now going round and round upon the hearth , and lying down as if he had established himself for the night ; now getting up again , and taking that nothing of a fag-end of a tail of his out into the weather , as if he had just remembered an appointment , and was off at a round trot , to keep it . `` There ! There 's the teapot , ready on the hob ! '' said Dot ; as briskly busy as a child at play at keeping house . `` And there 's the cold knuckle of ham ; and there 's the butter ; and there 's the crusty loaf , and all ! Here 's a clothes basket for the small parcels , John , if you 've got any there . Where are you , John ? Do n't let the dear child fall under the grate , Tilly , whatever you do ! '' It may be noted of Miss Slowboy , in spite of her rejecting the caution with some vivacity , that she had a rare and surprising talent for getting this baby into difficulties : and had several times imperilled its short life in a quiet way peculiarly her own .
She was of a spare and straight shape , this young lady , insomuch that her garments appeared to be in constant danger XXXXX sliding off those sharp pegs , her shoulders , on which they were loosely hung .
as for if in like near of that under with