As Perez, coming forth for some purpose, appeared at the door of the
Fennell house, there was a great shout of acclamation, the popular
ratification of the night's work. But an even more convincing
demonstration of approval awaited him. As he began to make his way
through the throng, Submit Goodrich, Old Israel's buxom, black-eyed
daughter, confronted him, saying:
"My old daddy'd a been in the stocks by this time if it hadn't been
for you, so there," and throwing her arms around his neck she gave him
a resounding smack on the lips. Meshech Little's wife followed suit,
and then Peleg Bidwell's and a lot of other women of the people, amid
the uproarious plaudits of the crowd, which became deafening as
Resignation Ann Poor, Zadkiel's wife, elbowed her way through the pack
and clasping the helpless Perez against her bony breast in a genuine
bear's hug, gave him a kiss like a file.
"Well, I never," ejaculated Prudence Fennell, who was bringing some
breakfast to Perez, and had observed all this kissing with a rather
sour expression.
Unluckily for her, Submit overheard the words.
"You never, didn't you? an livin in the same haouse long with him too?
Wal it's time you did," she exclaimed loudly, and seizing the
struggling girl she thrust her before Perez, holding down her hands so
that she could not cover her furiously blushing face, and amid the
boisterous laughter of the bystanders she was kissed also, a
proceeding which evidently pleased Obadiah Weeks, who stood near, as
little as the other part had pleased Prudence.
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