? ? ? ? We had only one check to our pleasure, and that happened a little while before I took my leave, when, Miss Mills chancing to make some allusion to tomorrow morning, I unluckily let out that, being obliged to exert myself now, I got up at five o'clock. Whether Dora had any idea that I was a Private Watchman, I am unable to say; but it made a great impression on her, and she neither played nor sang any more.
? ? ? ? It was still on her mind when I bade her adieu; and she said to me, in her pretty coaxing way - as if I were a doll, I used to think:
? ? ? ? 'Now don't get up at five o'clock, you naughty boy. It's so nonsensical!'
? ? ? ? 'My love,' said I, 'I have work to do.'
? ? ? ? 'But don't do it!' returned Dora. 'Why should you?'
? ? ? ? It was impossible to say to that sweet little surprised face, otherwise than lightly and playfully, that we must work to live.
? ? ? ? 'Oh! How ridiculous!' cried Dora.
? ? ? ? 'How shall we live without, Dora?' said I.
? ? ? ? 'How? Any how!' said Dora.
? ? ? ? She seemed to think she had quite settled the question, and gave me such a triumphant little kiss, direct from her innocent heart, that I would hardly have put her out of conceit with her answer, for a fortune.
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