Mark was not very punctual to the Supper-hour; and as he said Nothing of his Visit over the Way, I was to conclude him all Day at my Lord Mayor’s or in Cheapside. But the deep Carmine of his Cheek and the burning Light of his Eye, told Tales. I asked him if he had dined. He carelessly replied yes, with a Friend. I asked him if he had seen the Lord Mayor. He said yes, it had been a more troublesome Business than he expected: they had asked him so many searching Questions, and had got the whole Story out of him. He feared he had cut a sorry Figure. At any Rate, he had in his own Sight. Then I asked him whether he had got back his House. He said yes, and had put an old Woman into it, who had undertaken to fumigate it. Everything seemed sealed up, but he could not help fearing many Things were gone. The old Place looked so dismal, he came away as soon as he could.
After a Pause, he said, “Cherry, I feel a strong Inclination to get rid of that Concern altogether. The Situation is capital, and I shall get Something for the Business; but I have a great Mind to set up somewhere else; and though your Father’s was a much smaller Business than ours, yet my happiest Hours have been passed under this Roof; and if you like to give up the Shop to me, I will give for it whatever I get for my own. And you can still live with us.... I mean, we can still live here together. What say you, Cherry?”
I said, “Dear Mark, I have no Wish to receive for these Premises what you get for your own. The Shop you are welcome to; the Business you will have to remake for yourself, for it has dwindled quite away; I shall be very glad to continue to live with you as long as you like to have me.”
“We ... I shall always like to have you, Cherry,” said he, “for there is only one Person dearer to me in the whole World.”
“My Father has left me so comfortably provided,” said I, “that I shall never need to be a Burthen on any one.”
“I am glad of it for your own Sake,” returned he; “but, as to my taking up the Business without paying for it, that is not to be thought of. Whatever I get for mine, you shall have for yours.”
“So let it stand at present, at any Rate,” said I. “Henceforth, the Shop is yours. And, Mark, you will have the whole House to yourself to-morrow, for I am going into the Country.”
“Where?” said he, opening his Eyes very wide.
“To Bucklands Hall, in Berkshire; to stay with Master ... with Squire and Mistress Blower.”
A broad Smile spread over his Face. “I am very glad indeed to hear of it, Cherry,” said he.—“Very glad of it.”