There 's that spirit of emulation among 'em , sir , that if your wife says to my wife , ` I 'm the happiest woman in the world , and mine 's the best husband in the world , and I dote on him , ' my wife will say the same to yours , or more , and half believe it . '' `` Do you mean to say she do n't , then ? '' asked the Carrier . `` Do n't ! '' cried Tackleton with a short , sharp laugh . `` Do n't what ? '' The Carrier had some faint idea of adding , `` dote upon you . '' But , happening to meet the half-closed eye , as it twinkled upon him over the turned-up collar of the cape , which was within an ace of poking it out , he felt it such an unlikely part and parcel of anything to be doted on , that he substituted , `` that she do n't believe it ? '' `` Ah , you dog ! You 're joking , '' said Tackleton . But the Carrier , though slow to understand the full drift of his meaning , eyed him in such a serious manner , that he was obliged to be a little more explanatory . `` I have the humour , '' said Tackleton : holding up the fingers of his left hand , and tapping the forefinger , to imply , `` There I am , Tackleton to wit '' : `` I have the humour , sir , to marry a young wife , and a pretty wife '' : here he rapped his little finger , to express the Bride ; not sparingly , but sharply ; with a sense of power . `` I 'm able to gratify that humour , and I do . It 's my whim . But -- now look there ! '' He pointed to where Dot was sitting , thoughtfully before the fire : leaning her dimpled chin upon her hand , and watching the bright blaze . The Carrier looked at her , and then at him , and then at her , and then at him again . `` She honours and obeys , no doubt , you know , '' said Tackleton ; `` and that , as I am not a man of sentiment , is quite enough for me . But do you think there 's anything more in it ? '' `` I think , '' observed the Carrier , `` that I should chuck any man out of window who said there was n't . ''
`` Exactly so , '' returned the other with an unusual alacrity XXXXX assent .
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