'Why, what a battery!' exclaimed Alfred, stopping short, 'and one -
two - three - all foreboders of no good, in the great sea before
me. I am glad you are not the first I have met this morning: I
should have taken it for a bad omen. But, Grace was the first -
sweet, pleasant Grace - so I defy you all!'
'If you please, Mister, I was the first you know,' said Clemency
Newcome. 'She was walking out here, before sunrise, you remember.
I was in the house.'
'That's true! Clemency was the first,' said Alfred. 'So I defy
you with Clemency.'
'Ha, ha, ha, - for Self and Craggs,' said Snitchey. 'What a
defiance!'
'Not so bad a one as it appears, may be,' said Alfred, shaking
hands heartily with the Doctor, and also with Snitchey and Craggs,
and then looking round. 'Where are the - Good Heavens!'
With a start, productive for the moment of a closer partnership
between Jonathan Snitchey and Thomas Craggs than the subsisting
articles of agreement in that wise contemplated, he hastily betook
himself to where the sisters stood together, and - however, I
needn't more particularly explain his manner of saluting Marion
first, and Grace afterwards, than by hinting that Mr. Craggs may
possibly have considered it 'too easy.'
Perhaps to change the subject, Dr. Jeddler made a hasty move
towards the breakfast, and they all sat down at table.
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