We dined alone, we three together. Toms Cordones Women He seemed to be very fond
of my mother—I am afraid I liked him none the better for that—
and she was very fond of him. I gathered from what they said, that
an elder sister of his was coming to stay with them, and that she
was expected that evening. I am not certain whether I found out
then, or afterwards, that, without being actively concerned in any
business, he had some share in, or some annual charge upon the
profits of, a wine-merchant’s house in London, with which his
family had been connected from his great-grandfather’s time, and
in which his sister had a similar interest; but I may mention it in
this place, whether or no.
After dinner, when we were sitting by the fire, and I was
meditating an escape to Peggotty without having the hardihood to
slip away, lest it should offend the master of the house, a coach
drove up to the garden-gate and he went out to receive the visitor.
My mother followed him. I was timidly following her, when she
turned round at the parlour door, in the dusk, and taking me in
her embrace as she had been used to do, whispered me to love my
new father and be obedient to him. She did this hurriedly and
secretly, as if it were wrong, but tenderly; and, putting out her
hand behind her, held mine in it, until we came near to where he
was standing in the garden, where she let mine go, and drew hers
through his arm.