“The widow looked much amazed, but she sat down, and Tom sat down too, close beside her. I don’t know how it happened, gentlemen⁠—indeed my uncle used to tell me that Tom Smart said

he

didn’t know how it happened either⁠—but somehow or other the palm of Tom’s hand fell upon the back of the widow’s hand, and remained there while he spoke.

“ ‘My dear ma’am,’ said Tom Smart⁠—he had always a great notion of committing the amiable⁠—‘my dear ma’am, you deserve a very excellent husband⁠—you do indeed.’