To pull him by the skirts , and point to it when it appeared . To cluster round it , and embrace it , and strew flowers for it to tread on . To try to crown its fair head with their tiny hands . To show that they were fond of it , and loved it ; and that there was not one ugly , wicked , or accusatory creature to claim knowledge of it -- none but their playful and approving selves . His thoughts were constant to her image . It was always there . She sat plying her needle , before the fire , and singing to herself . Such a blithe , thriving , steady little Dot ! The Fairy figures turned upon him all at once , by one consent , with one prodigious concentrated stare , and seemed to say , `` Is this the light wife you are mourning for ? '' There were sounds of gaiety outside , musical instruments , and noisy tongues , and laughter . A crowd of young merry-makers came pouring in , among whom were May Fielding and a score of pretty girls . Dot was the fairest of them all ; as young as any of them too . They came to summon her to join their party . It was a dance . If ever little foot were made for dancing , hers was , surely . But she laughed , and shook her head , and pointed to her cookery on the fire , and her table ready spread ; with an exulting defiance that rendered her more charming than she was before . And so she merrily dismissed them , nodding to her would-be partners , one by one , as they passed out , with a comical indifference , enough to make them go and drown themselves immediately if they were her admirers -- and they must have been so , more or less ; they could n't help it . And yet indifference was not her character . Oh no ! For presently there came a certain Carrier to the door ; and , bless her , what a welcome she bestowed upon him !
Again the staring figures turned upon him all at once , and seemed XXXXX say , `` Is this the wife who has forsaken you ? ''
For If among as by of on so to with