Hark! Hes called for, sure enough, said John. Theres somebody at the door. Open it, Tilly.
Before she could reach it, however, it was opened from without; being a primitive sort of door, with a latch, that any one could lift if he chose and a good many people did choose, for all kinds of neighbours liked to have a cheerful word or two with the Carrier, though he was no great talker himself. Being opened, it gave admission to a little, meagre, thoughtful, dingy-faced man, who seemed to have made himself a great-coat from the sack-cloth covering of some old box; for, when he turned to shut the door, and keep the weather out, he disclosed upon the back of that garment, the inscription G & T in large black capitals. Also the word glass in bold characters.
Good evening, John! said the little man. Good evening, Mum. Good evening, Tilly. Good evening, Unbeknown! Hows Baby, Mum? Boxers pretty well I hope?
All thriving, Caleb, replied Dot. I am sure you need only look at the dear child, for one, to know that.
And Im sure I need only look at you for another, said Caleb.
He didnt look at her though; he had a wandering and thoughtful eye which seemed to be always projecting itself into some other time and place, no matter what he said; a description which will equally apply to his voice.
Or at John for another, said Caleb. Or at Tilly, as far as that goes[15]. Or certainly at Boxer.
Busy just now, Caleb? asked the Carrier.
Why, pretty well, John, he returned, with the distraught air of a man who was casting about for the Philosophers stone, at least. Pretty much so. Theres rather a run on Noahs Arks at present. I could have wished to improve upon the Family, but I dont see how its to be done at the price. It would be a satisfaction to ones mind, to make it clearer which was Shems and Hams, and which was Wives. Flies ant on that scale neither, as compared with elephants you know! Ah! well! Have you got anything in the parcel line for me[16], John?
The Carrier put his hand into a pocket of the coat he had taken off; and brought out, carefully preserved in moss and paper, a tiny flower-pot.
There it is! he said, adjusting it with great care. Not so much as a leaf damaged. Full of buds!
Calebs dull eye brightened, as he took it, and thanked him.
Dear, Caleb, said the Carrier. Very dear at this season.
Never mind that. It would be cheap to me, whatever it cost, returned the little man. Anything else, John?
A small box, replied the Carrier. Here you are!
For Caleb Plummer, said the little man, spelling out the direction. With Cash. With Cash, John? I dont think its for me.
With Care, returned the Carrier, looking over his shoulder. Where do you make out cash?[17]
Oh! To be sure! said Caleb. Its all right. With care! Yes, yes; thats mine. It might have been with cash, indeed, if my dear Boy in the Golden South Americas had lived, John. You loved him like a son; didnt you? You neednt say you did. I know, of course. Caleb Plummer. With care. Yes, yes, its all right. Its a box of dolls eyes for my daughters work. I wish it was her own sight in a box, John.
I wish it was, or could be! cried the Carrier.
Thankee, said the little man. You speak very hearty. To think that she should never see the Dolls and them a-staring at her, so bold, all day long! Thats where it cuts. Whats the damage, John?
Ill damage you, said John, if you inquire. Dot! Very near?
Well! its like you to say so, observed the little man. Its your kind way. Let me see. I think thats all.
I think not, said the Carrier. Try again.
Something for our Governor, eh? said Caleb, after pondering a little while. To be sure. Thats what I came for; but my heads so running on them Arks and things! He hasnt been here, has he?
Not he, returned the Carrier. Hes too busy, courting.
Hes coming round though, said Caleb; for he told me to keep on the near side of the road going home, and it was ten to one hed take me up. I had better go, by the bye. You couldnt have the goodness to let me pinch Boxers tail, Mum, for half a moment, could you?
Why, Caleb! what a question!
Oh never mind[18], Mum, said the little man. He mightnt like it perhaps. Theres a small order just come in, for barking dogs; and I should wish to go as close to Natur as I could, for sixpence. Thats all. Never mind, Mum.
It happened opportunely, that Boxer, without receiving the proposed stimulus, began to bark with great zeal. But, as this implied the approach of some new visitor, Caleb, postponing his study from the life to a more convenient season, shouldered the round box, and took a hurried leave. He might have spared himself the trouble, for he met the visitor upon the threshold.
Oh! You are here, are you? Wait a bit. Ill take you home. John Peerybingle, my service to you. More of my service to your pretty wife. Handsomer every day! Better too, if possible! And younger, mused the speaker, in a low voice; thats the Devil of it!
I should be astonished at your paying compliments, Mr. Tackleton, said Dot, not with the best grace in the world; but for your condition.
You know all about it then?
I have got myself to believe it, somehow, said Dot.
A ft er a hard struggle, I suppose?
Very.
Tackleton the Toy-merchant, pretty generally known as Gruff and Tackleton for that was the firm, though Gruff had been bought out long ago; only leaving his name, and as some said his nature, according to its Dictionary meaning, in the business Tackleton the Toy-merchant, was a man whose vocation had been quite misunderstood by his Parents and Guardians. If they had made him a Money Lender, or a sharp Attorney, or a Sheriff s Officer, or a Broker, he might have sown his discontented oats[19] in his youth, and, after having had the full run of himself in ill-natured transactions, might have turned out amiable, at last, for the sake of a little freshness and novelty. But, cramped and chafing in the peaceable pursuit of toy-making, he was a domestic Ogre, who had been living on children all his life, and was their implacable enemy. He despised all toys; wouldnt have bought one for the world; delighted, in his malice, to insinuate grim expressions into the faces of brown paper farmers who drove pigs to market, bellmen who advertised lost lawyers consciences, movable old ladies who darned stockings or carved pies; and other like samples of his stock in trade[20]. In appalling masks; hideous, hairy, red-eyed Jacks in Boxes; Vampire Kites; demoniacal Tumblers who wouldnt lie down, and were perpetually flying forward, to stare infants out of countenance; his soul perfectly revelled. They were his only relief, and safety-valve. He was great in such inventions. Anything suggestive of a Pony-nightmare was delicious to him. He had even lost money (and he took to that toy very kindly) by getting up Goblin slides for magic-lanterns, whereon the Powers of Darkness were depicted as a sort of supernatural shell-fish, with human faces. In intensifying the portraiture of Giants, he had sunk quite a little capital; and, though no painter himself, he could indicate, for the instruction of his artists, with a piece of chalk, a certain furtive leer for the countenances of those monsters, which was safe to destroy the peace of mind of any young gentleman between the ages of six and eleven, for the whole Christmas or Midsummer Vacation.