`` The other step , '' said Bertha . `` The man 's tread behind you ! '' `` She is not to be deceived , '' observed the Carrier , laughing . `` Come along , sir . You 'll be welcome , never fear ! '' He spoke in a loud tone ; and , as he spoke , the deaf old gentleman entered . `` He 's not so much a stranger that you have n't seen him once , Caleb , '' said the Carrier . `` You 'll give him house room till we go ? '' `` Oh , surely , John , and take it as an honour ! '' `` He 's the best company on earth to talk secrets in , '' said John . `` I have reasonable good lungs , but he tries 'em I can tell you . Sit down , sir . All friends here , and glad to see you ! '' When he had imparted this assurance , in a voice that amply corroborated what he had said about his lungs , he added in his natural tone , `` A chair in the chimney-corner , and leave to sit quite silent and look pleasantly about him , is all he cares for . He 's easily pleased . '' Bertha had been listening intently . She called Caleb to her side , when he had set the chair , and asked him , in a low voice , to describe their visitor . When he had done so -LRB- truly now , with scrupulous fidelity -RRB- , she moved , for the first time since he had come in , and sighed , and seemed to have no further interest concerning him . The Carrier was in high spirits , good fellow that he was , and fonder of his little wife than ever . `` A clumsy Dot she was , this afternoon ! ''
he said , encircling her XXXXX his rough arm , as she stood , removed from the rest ; `` and yet I like her somehow .
about as behind for of since that till to with