For Mary had sunk, and her body was shaking, as if in a fit.
Tom’s letter she held, and her thumb-nail the month when the letter
was writ
Fast-dinted, while she hung sobbing: ‘O, see, Sir, the letter is old!
O, do not be too happy!’—‘If I understand you, I’m bowled!’
Said Grandfather Bridgeman, ‘and down go my wickets!—not happy! when
here,
Here’s Tom like to marry his General’s daughter—or widow—I’ll swear!