together.

"Much to Toby's dismay, there was not a light in either.

"'Well,' he reflected, 'she is prudent, and is saving her oil, I dare
say, and I can inquire.'

"So he felt his way along to the first house in the row--he could just
see them looming up in the darkness. He poked his head inside the
door. 'Mrs. Clover-leaf!' cried he, 'are you in there? My lantern has
gone out, and I cannot tell which is your house.'

"There came a little grunt in reply.

"'Mrs. Clover-leaf!' cried Toby again.

"'I am here; what do you want?' answered a voice in the darkness.

"It was so sharp that Toby felt for a moment as if his ears were being
sawed off, and he clapped his hands on them involuntarily. 'Bless me!
I had forgotten that Mrs. Clover-leaf had such a voice,' thought he.

"'What do you want?' said the voice again.

"It did not sound quite so sharp this time. He had become a little
used to it, and, after all, a sharp voice would not prevent her being
neat and pleasant and stirring the soup carefully.

"So he said, as sweetly and coaxingly as he was able, 'I have come to
see if you would like to marry me, Mrs. Clover-leaf.'