She sat plying her needle , before the fire , and singing to herself . Such a blithe , thriving , steady little Dot ! The Fairy figures turned upon him all at once , by one consent , with one prodigious concentrated stare , and seemed to say , `` Is this the light wife you are mourning for ? '' There were sounds of gaiety outside , musical instruments , and noisy tongues , and laughter . A crowd of young merry-makers came pouring in , among whom were May Fielding and a score of pretty girls . Dot was the fairest of them all ; as young as any of them too . They came to summon her to join their party . It was a dance . If ever little foot were made for dancing , hers was , surely . But she laughed , and shook her head , and pointed to her cookery on the fire , and her table ready spread ; with an exulting defiance that rendered her more charming than she was before . And so she merrily dismissed them , nodding to her would-be partners , one by one , as they passed out , with a comical indifference , enough to make them go and drown themselves immediately if they were her admirers -- and they must have been so , more or less ; they could n't help it . And yet indifference was not her character . Oh no ! For presently there came a certain Carrier to the door ; and , bless her , what a welcome she bestowed upon him ! Again the staring figures turned upon him all at once , and seemed to say , `` Is this the wife who has forsaken you ? '' A shadow fell upon the mirror or the picture : call it what you will . A great shadow of the Stranger , as he first stood underneath their roof ; covering its surface , and blotting out all other objects . But , the nimble Fairies worked like bees to clear it off again . And Dot again was there . Still bright and beautiful .
Rocking her little Baby in its cradle , singing to it softly , and resting her head upon a shoulder which had its counterpart in the musing figure by which the Fairy Cricket XXXXX .
bless call came exulting fell help passed rendered stood turned