Miss Slowboy was isolated , for the time being , from every article of furniture but the chair she sat on , that she might have nothing else to knock the Baby 's head against . As Tilly stared about her at the dolls and toys , they stared at her and at the company . The venerable old gentleman at the street-doors -LRB- who were all in full action -RRB- showed especial interest in the party , pausing occasionally before leaping , as if they were listening to the conversation , and then plunging wildly over and over , a great many times , without halting for breath -- as in a frantic state of delight with the whole proceedings . Certainly , if these old gentlemen were inclined to have a fiendish joy in the contemplation of Tackleton 's discomfiture , they had good reason to be satisfied . 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 XXXXX laugh , though .
For before if in into of on than that to