Master Benskin was putting up his Shop Shutters. I said, “I can’t think what has become of my Father, Master Benskin.” He said, “Has not he come Home? Oh, Something unforeseen must have delayed him. You know that might happen to any of us.” And put the Screw in his last Shutter.
I said, “What should you do if you were me?” He said, “Well, I’m sure I can’t tell what I should do—I don’t see I could do Anything—He’ll come Home presently, I dare say ... don’t be uneasy.” And went in. I thought, “Job’s Comforters are ye all.”
About ten o’ the Clock at Night, I went down to the Bridge Gate again. They were shutting it up for the Night, and making up the great Bonfire in the Middle of the Street. This Time I could hardly speak for crying; I said, “Master Princeps, I can’t think why my Father doesn’t come back! I think Something must have happened!”
“Nay,” says he, “what can have happened? Very likely he has been unexpectedly detained, and thinks he shall not be back before the Gate is shut, and is too neighbourly to wish to knock me up. So he takes a Bed with the Friend he is with.—Now we’ve got it all clear, depend upon it!”
“But,” said I, “there’s no Friend he can be with, that I know of.”
“Why, in Lime Street!” says he, with all the Confidence imaginable.
“Lime Street? Dear Master Princeps, my Father knows nobody in Lime Street.”
—“Don’t he though?” says he doubtfully. “Well, I’m sure I think he said he was going through or to Lime Street, I can’t justly remember which.”
I turned away in deep Disappointment and Trouble. As I passed under the deep Shade of the Houses, some one coming close up to me, said, “Cherry! pretty Cherry! is that you?” But it was not my Father’s Voice, and I passed on in Disgust. I would not fasten the House-door, and sat just within it all Night, a Candle set in the Window. I opened my Bible at random, in Hope of Something to hearten and comfort.—The Words I lighted on were, “I sought him, but could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no Answer.” And the Page was wet with my Tears.
As soon as Day broke, I was again at the Door. People going to Market early looked at me strangely as they passed. It struck me my Appearance was not very tidy, so I went in, washed and re-dressed myself, which refreshed me a little, drank a Cup of Milk, and then put on my Hood and went down to the Gate. I said, “Master Princeps, I can’t think what’s come to my Father.”