Volume + 

II + 

I + 

That Sobered Him + 

When Mr. Dribble married the Right Honorable Catharine Mount Energy, the widow of the Earl of Pieponder, Mary Tomkins shut herself up for three weeks in her aunt’s store-closet. She was visited of course, from time to time, by different members of the establishment, and would declare that she was perfectly happy; but on such occasions her last words always bore the same burden, “Never, never, never, never!” One day while she was there, John Thomas came home, a little, perhaps, the worse for what he had taken, and made his way in among the pickle jars and jam-pots. “Mary,” he said, “ ’the parshon’s married⁠—might ashwell come round, old girl, ansh marry me.” + 

“John,” she said, very gravely, “Anastasia Fitzapplejohn, no doubt, is fond of these jovial humors. Had you not better seek her society?” He answered with an oath, and expressed the wish that Miss Fitzapplejohn might be taken at once to a place he should not have named. “Tomorrow you will wish the same for me,” she said. That sobered him. He fell prostrate at her feet, and, grovelling in the dust, swore with many oaths that if she would only consent to be Mrs. Thomas, he would take the pledge on the next morning. She bent down over him and gave him her cool, soft hand to raise him, and with her taper fingers pushed the dishevilled hair from off his forehead, and then she brushed his clothes. But as she did so she said continually, “Never, never, never, never!” + 

II + 

Love Forgives + 

When the Right Honorable Catharine Mount Energy, Countess of Pieponder, died, which she did the week after she had married Mr. Dribble, it was discovered that her affairs were very much out of order. By the singular but well-known laws of Kent, in which county the marriage had been celebrated, Mr. Dribble became responsible for the debts of his widow and all her relations. This was a crushing blow, and just at this time the bishop dismissed him as being lacking in spiritual grace. Mr. Dribble then bethought himself of the sweet passages of his earlier years, and, remembering that Mrs. Johnson had saved a little money, saw at once where lay his only chance of salvation here on earth. So he went to Finsbury Square, nothing abashed. + 

“Do you love me, Mary?” he said. + 

The telltale blood rushed to her face, as she stood for half an hour gently shaking her head and gazing into his eyes. Then she said, with that sweet voice of hers, which was the life of all her lovers, “Love you, Mr. Dribble? Ay, that I do.” + 

“And love forgives,” he said, taking her sweet hand within his clammy grasp. + 

“Yes, love forgives.” + 

“And you forgive.” + 

“I have forgiven.” + 

“Then you will consent to become Mrs. Dribble?” + 

Again she stood gazing into his eyes for half an hour; but when she made her answer, it was still the same, “Never, never, never, never!” + 

III + 

Squire Robinson + 

“About this time there came to town an old gentleman from the country, who had known Mary’s father, and he brought with him his daughter Jemima. Jemima Robinson and Mary Tomkins were fast friends, though narrow circumstances compelled the latter to administer to the wants of her aunt’s inmates. Now, it was thought that the presence of the old squire and his daughter might induce the heart-laden girl to take counsel with prudence, and to give herself either to the one suitor or to the other. + 

“My dear,” said the squire, “you must think of the future.” + 

“And of the past,” said Mary. + 

“Let the past take care of itself, my dear. A house over your head and half a dozen children are great blessings. Johnny Thomas is a sprightly fellow. Thou hast half a mind to take him, I know, Mary.” + 

“But not more than half, Mr. Robinson.” + 

“Dang it, girl! then have the parson. He had ever a sheep’s eye for thee, and, if I remember rightly, thou wast sweet upon him once.” + 

“ ’Twas but half sweet,” she whispered, with her eyes turned to the ground. + 

“But thou knowest how the donkey fared who was starved to death between two bundles of hay. Thou wouldst not imitate the ass!” + 

“The poor brute at any rate was honest,” said Mary. + 

“Thou robbest me almost of my patience,” said the squire, angrily. “Thou canst not have both. Take one and leave the other.” + 

But she answered him only as she had ever answered, “Never, never, never, never!” + 