noon
Mr. Peggotty ruffled his hair again , with both hands , as a further preparation for what he was going to say , and went on , with a hand upon each of his knees : ` There was a certain person as had know 'd our Em ' ly , from the time when her father was drownded ; as had seen her constant ; when a babby , when a young gal , when a woman . Not much of a person to look at , he war n't , ' said Mr. Peggotty , ` something o ' my own build -- rough -- a good deal o ' the sou ' - wester in him -- wery salt -- but , on the whole , a honest sort of a chap , with his art in the right place . ' I thought I had never seen Ham grin to anything like the extent to which he sat grinning at us now . ` What does this here blessed tarpaulin go and do , ' said Mr. Peggotty , with his face one high noon of enjoyment , ` but he loses that there art of his to our little Em ' ly . He follers her about , he makes hisself a sort o ' servant to her , he loses in a great measure his relish for his wittles , and in the long-run he makes it clear to me wot 's amiss . Now I could wish myself , you see , that our little Em ' ly was in a fair way of being married . I could wish to see her , at all ewents , under articles to a honest man as had a right to defend her .