So . How composed she is , you see , already ; and how good it is of her to mind us , '' said the cheery little woman , kissing her upon the forehead . `` Come away , dear Bertha ! Come ! and here 's her good father will come with her , wo n't you , Caleb ? To -- be -- sure ! '' Well , well ! she was a noble little Dot in such things , and it must have been an obdurate nature that could have withstood her influence . When she had got poor Caleb and his Bertha away , that they might comfort and console each other , as she knew they only could , she presently came bouncing back , -- the saying is , as fresh as any daisy ; I say fresher -- to mount guard over that bridling little piece of consequence in the cap and gloves , and prevent the dear old creature from making discoveries . `` So bring me the precious Baby , Tilly , '' said she , drawing a chair to the fire ; `` and while I have it in my lap , here 's Mrs. Fielding , Tilly , will tell me all about the management of Babies , and put me right in twenty points where I 'm as wrong as can be . Wo n't you , Mrs. Fielding ? '' Not even the Welsh Giant , who , according to the popular expression , was so `` slow '' as to perform a fatal surgical operation upon himself , in emulation of a juggling trick achieved by his arch enemy at breakfast-time ; not even he fell half so readily into the snare prepared for him as the old lady into this artful pitfall . The fact of Tackleton having walked out ; and furthermore , of two or three people having been talking together at a distance , for two minutes , leaving her to her own resources ; was quite enough to have put her on her dignity , and the bewailment of that mysterious convulsion in the Indigo Trade , for four-and-twenty hours . But this becoming deference to her experience , on the part of the young mother , was so irresistible , that after a short affectation of humility , she began to enlighten her with the best grace in the world ; and , sitting bolt upright before the wicked Dot , she did , in half an hour , deliver more infallible domestic recipes and precepts than would -LRB- if acted on -RRB- have utterly destroyed and done up that Young Peerybingle , though he had been an Infant Samson . To change the theme , Dot did a little needlework -- she carried the contents of a whole workbox in her pocket ; however she contrived it , I do n't know -- then did a little nursing ; then a little more needlework ; then had a little whispering chat with May , while the old lady dozed ; and so in little bits of bustle , which was quite her manner always , found it a very short afternoon . Then , as it grew dark , and as it was a solemn part of this Institution of the Picnic that she should perform all Bertha 's household tasks , she trimmed the fire , and swept the hearth , and set the tea-board out , and drew the curtain , and lighted a candle . Then she played an air or two on a rude kind of harp , which Caleb had contrived for Bertha , and played them very well ; for Nature had made her delicate little ear as choice a one for music as it would have been for jewels , if she had had any to wear . By this time it was the established hour for having tea ; and Tackleton came back again to share the meal , and spend the evening . Caleb and Bertha had returned some time before , and Caleb had sat down to his afternoon 's work . But he could n't settle to it , poor fellow , being anxious and remorseful for his daughter .
It was touching to see him sitting idle XXXXX his working stool , regarding her so wistfully , and always saying in his face , `` Have I deceived her from her cradle , but to break her heart ? ''
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