As unlike her ! -- Why , how many years older than you is Gruff and Tackleton , John ? '' `` How many more cups of tea shall I drink to-night , at one sitting , than Gruff and Tackleton ever took in four , I wonder ? '' replied John good-humouredly , as he drew a chair to the round table , and began at the cold ham . `` As to eating , I eat but little ; but that little I enjoy , Dot . '' Even this , his usual sentiment at meal-times , one of his innocent delusions -LRB- for his appetite was always obstinate , and flatly contradicted him -RRB- , awoke no smile in the face of his little wife , who stood among the parcels , pushing the cake-box slowly from her with her foot , and never once looked , though her eyes were cast down too , upon the dainty shoe she generally was so mindful of . Absorbed in thought , she stood there , heedless alike of the tea and John -LRB- although he called to her and rapped the table with his knife to startle her -RRB- , until he rose and touched her on the arm ; when she looked at him for a moment , and hurried to her place behind the tea-board , laughing at her negligence . But not as she had laughed before . The manner and the music were quite changed . The Cricket , too , had stopped . Somehow , the room was not so cheerful as it had been . Nothing like it . `` So , these are all the parcels , are they , John ? '' she said , breaking a long silence , which the honest Carrier had devoted to the practical illustration of one part of his favourite sentiment -- certainly enjoying what he ate , if it could n't be admitted that he ate but little . `` So these are all the parcels , are they , John ? '' `` That 's all , '' said John . `` Why -- no -- I '' -- laying down his knife and fork , and taking a long breath -- `` I declare -- I 've clean forgotten the old gentleman ! '' `` The old gentleman ? '' `` In the cart , '' said John . `` He was asleep among the straw , the last time I saw him .
I 've very nearly remembered him , twice , since I came XXXXX ; but he went out of my head again .
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