dozen after dozen
`` We call these large baskets barges . You 'll soon pick up the names . There , go on . '' I at once began to keep count of the bunches , Old Brownsmith seeming to take no farther notice of me , while Ike the packer kept on laying in dozen after dozen , once or twice pretending to lay them in and bringing the bunches out again , as if to balk me , but all in a grim serious way , as if it was part of his work . I was so busy and excited that I hardly had time to enjoy the sweet scent of the flowers in that cool , soft pit ; but in a short time I was so far accustomed that I had an eye for the men bringing in fresh supplies , just cut , and for the women who , working at rough benches , were so cleverly laying the buds in a half-moon shape between their fingers and thumbs , the flowers being laid flat upon the bench . Then a second row was laid upon the first , a piece of wet matting was rapidly twisted round , tied , and the stalks cut off regularly with one pressure of the knife . It seemed to me as if enough of the beautiful pink buds nestling in their delicate green leaves were being tied up to supply all London , but I was exceedingly ignorant then .