Tackleton could n't get on at all ; and the more cheerful his intended bride became in Dot 's society , the less he liked it , though he had brought them together for that purpose . For he was a regular dog in the manger , was Tackleton ; and , when they laughed and he could n't , he took it into his head , immediately , that they must be laughing at him . `` Ah , May ! '' said Dot . `` Dear , dear , what changes ! To talk of those merry school days makes one young again . '' `` Why , you a n't particularly old at any time , are you ? '' said Tackleton . `` Look at my sober , plodding husband there , '' returned Dot . `` He adds twenty years to my age at least . Do n't you , John ? '' `` Forty , '' John replied . `` How many you 'll add to Mary 's , I am sure I do n't know , '' said Dot , laughing . `` But she ca n't be much less than a hundred years of age on her next birthday . '' `` Ha , ha ! '' laughed Tackleton . Hollow as a drum that laugh , though . And he looked as if he could have twisted Dot 's neck comfortably . `` Dear , dear ! '' said Dot .
`` Only XXXXX remember how we used to talk , at school , about the husbands we would choose .
For Mary as at in into than that to years