The Cricket on the Hearth came out into the room, and stood in Fairy shape before him.
"'I love it,'" said the Fairy Voice, repeating what he well remembered, "'for the many times I have heard it, and the many thoughts its harmless music has given me.'"
"She said so!" cried the Carrier. "True!"
"'This has been a happy home, John! and I love the Cricket for its sake!'"
"It has been, Heaven knows," returned the Carrier. "She made it happy, always,—until now."
"So gracefully sweet-tempered; so domestic, joyful, busy, and light-hearted!" said the Voice.
"Otherwise I never could have loved her as I did," returned the Carrier.
The Voice, correcting him, said "do."
The Carrier repeated "as I did." But not firmly. His faltering tongue resisted his control, and would speak in its own way for itself and him.
The Figure, in an attitude of invocation, raised its hand and said: