`` Oh , my gracious ! '' `` Always merry and light-hearted with us ! '' cried the smiling Bertha . `` Oh ! you 're there , are you ? '' answered Tackleton . `` Poor Idiot ! '' He really did believe she was an Idiot ; and he founded the belief , I ca n't say whether consciously or not , upon her being fond of him . `` Well ! and being there , -- how are you ? '' said Tackleton in his grudging way . `` Oh ! well ; quite well ! And as happy as even you can wish me to be . As happy as you would make the whole world , if you could ! '' `` Poor Idiot ! '' muttered Tackleton . `` No gleam of reason . Not a gleam ! '' The Blind Girl took his hand and kissed it ; held it for a moment in her own two hands ; and laid her cheek against it tenderly before releasing it .
There was such unspeakable affection and such fervent gratitude in the act , that Tackleton himself was moved XXXXX say , in a milder growl than usual : `` What 's the matter now ? ''
against as for if in of to upon whether with