The String of Pearls (1850), p. 371

"Welcome," he said as he held out his hand to her. "You will find your young friend up and much better."
Minna could only look her thanks. Mrs. Ragg was following her, and as the ascent of stairs was always rather a task to that good Lady, she was making a noise like a stranded grampus in breathing.
"Ah, colonel," she said, u young legs get* up stairs faster than old ones, sir, as you see. Well—well, there was a time when first I knew poor dear Ragg, who is of course dead and gone, quite premature.
"Exactly, Mrs. Ragg," said the colonel, as he rapidly descended the stairs."
"Did you ever, my dear, know such a strange man?" said Mrs. Ragg to Minna.
"Who?"
"The colonel, to be sure. So soon as I begin to tell him any little what do you call it. No it ain't nannygoat—that's ridiculous. Its—its—what is it? Anecdote do you mean, Mrs. Ragg?"
"Yes, to be sure. Well, as I was a saying, no sooner do I begin telling him a little nannygoat—no, I mean anecdote, than off he is like a shot."
Minna smiled to herself, and she was far from wondering that the colonel was off like a shot, for well she knew, that when Mrs. Ragg did begin anything concerning the late Mr. Ragg, it usually lasted three quarters of an hour at the very least.
"Minna, Minna!" called Tobias.
"I am here, Tobias."
In another moment she was in the room. Truly it was a pleasant thing to see the face of Tobias, when, is sunshine, as he called Minna, came close to him, and in her soft voice asked him if he was better.
"Don't mind me," said Mrs. Ragg, "I am going to darn a stocking or two. that's all. Just say what you both like. Young folks will be young folks Bless me, I recollect just as it it were only yesterday, when I used to speak to poor departed Mr. Ragg, who is, premature, dead and gone, in a manner of speaking. Ah, dear me! How the world goes round and round—round and round, continually. "
Tobias and Minna were so well accustomed to the garullity of Mrs. Ragg, and so well aware that she required no answer, that they let her talk on, and did not mind her, as she requested they would not; and so the evening grew apace, and the light gradually began to wane, as those two young loving hearts spoke together of the future, and indulged in that day dream of happiness which can only belong to youth and love.
Todd is skulking round the angle of the garden wall, from which he can get a view of the colonel's house, and yet not be seen himself.
The more he looked the more the desire grew upon him, notwithstanding the immense risk he ran of personal detection, by so doing, to get into the house, and
finish the career of poor Tobias. He would have had no particular objection rather to have taken the life of Mrs. Ragg, if it could be easily and comfortbly done.
It has been said that there are folks in the world who never forgive any one for doing them a kindness; and such paradoxical views of human nature have been attempted to be laid down as truths; but whether this be so or not, is still to be proved, although it is certain that nothing stirs the evil passions of
men who will inflict injury upon the innocent, as to find themselves baffled in their villany. From that moment the matter becomes a personal affair of
vengeance.
Hence, since Todd had become thoroughly aware that Tobias had escaped from the death he had intended for him at the mad-house, his rage against the boy knew no bounds. Indeed, the reader
will conclude that it must have been a feeling of no

THE STRING OE PEARLS. 371

" Welcome/' he said as he held out his hand to her. " You will find your
young friend up and much better."

Minna could only look her thanks. Mrs. Ragg was following her, and as
the ascent of stairs was always rather a task to that good Lady, she was mak-
ing a nuise like a stranded grampus in breathing.

"Ah, colonel/' she said, u young legs get* up stairs faster than old ones, sir,
as you see. Well—well, there was a time when first I knew poor dear Ragg,
who is of course dead and gone, quite premature.

*' Exactly, Mrs. Ragg/' said the colonel, as he rapidly descended the stairs."

P Did you ever, my dear, know such a strange man V } said Mrs. Ragg to
Minna. *vmh- : '

"Who?"

"The colonel, to be sure. So soon as I begin to tell him any little what do
you call it. No it ain't nanny goat — that's ridiculous. Its — its— what is it T
u Anecdote do you mean, Mrs. Ragg f 3

"Yes, to be sure. Well, as I was a saying, no sooner do I begin telling him
a little nannygoat — no, I mean anecdote, than off* he is like a shot."

Minna smiled to herself, and she was far from wondering that the colonel was
off like a shot, for well she knew, that when Mrs. Ragg did begin anything
concerning the late Mr. Ragg, it usually lasted three quarters of an hour at the
very least.

k < Minna, Minna V called Tobias.

!1 I am here, Tobias/'

In another moment she was in the room. Truly it was a pleasant thing to
see the face of Tobias, when, is sunshine, as he called Minna, came close to him,
and in her soft voice asked him if he was better.

ff Don't mind me/' said Mrs. Ragg, " I am going to darn a stocking or two.
that's all. Just say what you both like. Young folks will be young folks
Bless me, I recollect just as it it were only yesterday, when I used to speak to poor
departed Mr. Ragg, who is, premature, dead and gone, in a manner of
speaking. Ah, dear me ! How the world goes round and round — round and
round, continually. "

Tobias and Minna were so well accustomed to the garullity of Mrs. Ragg,
and so well aware that she required no answer, that they let her talk on, and
did not mind her, as she requested they would not ; and so the evening grew
apace, and the light gradually began to wane, as those two young loving
hearts spoke together of the future, and indulged in that day dream of happiness
which can only belong to youth and love.

-$ * * * * *

Todd is skulking round the angle of the garden wall, from which he can get
a view of the colonel's house, and yet not be seen himself.

The more he looked the more the desire grew upon him, notwithstanding the
immense risk he ran of personal detection, by so doing, to get into the house, and
finish the career of poor Tobias. He would have had no particular objection
rather to have taken the life of Mrs. Ragg, if it could be easily and comfort-
bly done.

It has been said that there are folks in the world who never forgive any one
for doing them a kindness ; and such paradoxical views of human nature have
been attempted to be laid down as truths ; but whether this be so or not, is
still to be proved, although it is certain that nothing stirs the evil passions of
men who will inflict injury upon the innocent, as to find themselves baffled in
their villany. Trom that moment the matter becomes a persond affair of
vengeance.

Hence, since Todd had become thoroughly aware that Tobias had escaped
from the death he had intended for him at the mad-house, his rage against the
boy knew no bounds.

Indeed, the reader will conclude that it must have been a feeling of no