Welcome home , my boy ! '' This end attained , the kettle , being dead beat , boiled over , and was taken off the fire . Mrs. Peerybingle then went running to the door , where , what with the wheels of a cart , the tramp of a horse , the voice of a man , the tearing in and out of an excited dog , and the surprising and mysterious appearance of a baby , there was soon the very What 's - his-name to play . Where the baby came from , or how Mrs. Peerybingle got hold of it in that flash of time , I do n't know . But a live baby there was in Mrs. Peerybingle 's arms ; and a pretty tolerable amount of pride she seemed to have in it , when she was drawn gently to the fire , by a sturdy figure of a man , much taller and much older than herself , who had to stoop a long way down to kiss her . But she was worth the trouble . Six foot six , with the lumbago , might have done it . `` Oh goodness , John ! '' said Mrs. P. `` What a state you 're in with the weather ! '' -LSB- Illustration : `` A dot and '' -- here he glanced at the baby -- `` a dot and carry -- I wo n't say it , for fear I should spoil it ; but I was very near a joke . '' -RSB- He was something the worse for it undeniably . The thick mist hung in clots upon his eyelashes like candied thaw ; and , between the fog and fire together , there were rainbows in his very whiskers . `` Why , you see , Dot , '' John made answer slowly , as he unrolled a shawl from about his throat , and warmed his hands ; `` it -- it a n't exactly summer weather . So no wonder . '' `` I wish you would n't call me Dot , John . I do n't like it , '' said Mrs. Peerybingle : pouting in a way that clearly showed she did like it very much . `` Why , what else are you ? '' returned John , looking down upon her with a smile , and giving her waist as light a squeeze as his huge hand and arm could give . `` A dot and '' -- here he glanced at the baby -- `` a dot and carry -- I wo n't say it , for fear I should spoil it ; but I was very near a joke . I do n't know as ever I was nearer . ''
He was often near to something or other very clever , XXXXX his own account : this lumbering , slow , honest John ; this John so heavy , but so light of spirit ; so rough upon the surface , but so gentle at the core ; so dull without , so quick within ; so stolid , but so good !
as at by for in of over than to upon