"If you cut me off from writing, Mrs. Patty," says he, with his pleasant Smile, "pray what do you leave me? I am already forbidden to talk, I am unable to walk, and I cannot always be reading. Oblige me by porting this Packet by a safe Hand; or stay, here is a Shilling for a special Messenger, if you will find one."
I said, "I will, Sir," and happening to cast my Eye absently on the Superscription of the Packet as I withdrew, I saw that it was addressed to Mr. Paul Caryl, Will's Coffee-House, which struck me, as I knew not that he was any Acquaintance of Mr. Fenwick's.
Mrs. Gatty continued exceeding ill all that Day, her Tongue forked and crimson-red, her Eyes wandering, and her Deliration incessantly finding Vent in an incoherent Babble, of which few Words could be made out, so thick and quick was her Voice. When Dr. Elwes saw her next, he shook his Head, and laying his Hand kindly on my Shoulder, "You are in for it now, Mrs. Patty," says he. "I don't believe you will take Infection, but it may be as well to keep yourself to yourself, and not go below, especially to your younger Sister. This poor Thing's Fever will turn in a few Days; and in the mean Time, you must continue to be what you have begun, by being a good Samaritan." I dropped a few Tears to hear him talk thus, but he bade me by no Means to give Way to low Spirits, but take plenty of generous Nourishment; and he would set them on their Guard below, without frightening them. He also said somewhat of an hired Nurse, but I begged him not to think of it, unless indeed I should fall sick myself, and then I would rather have one than endanger Prue.
When he was gone, I kneeled down and prayed; then rose with much Composure and sat down to my Work, which was making a Net to keep the Flies from the Pastry, occasionally laying it aside to render the poor Sufferer what Attention she required.
By and by I heard the Tap of my dear Mother's Walking-Stick, coming up the Stairs; but I would by no Means let her in, only spoke to her through the Door, as cheerfully as I could, and bade her take Care of dear Prue and her dear Self.
The next few Days and Nights were very trying. I obtained a nearer Sight of the dark Valley we must all pass through soon or late than I had ever done before. It seemed to throw an entirely different Hue over the Face of natural and spiritual Things, and to shew the littleness of many Things that are commonly considered great, and the greatness of many that are considered little.
At length the Fever took a Turn, and poor Gatty opened her Eyes with a Look that had Sense and Recognition in it. She said, "Oh me, how weak I am! Are you still here, dear Mrs. Patty? How strange it seems to me to be lying a-bed without hearing my Lady pulling her Bell, and rapping the Floor with her Slipper!"
I bent over her and kissed her wan Lips, which she requited by a thankful Smile, and then dozed off into what I was ready to believe was a restoring Sleep. I was very desirous not to disturb it, so sat perfectly still at my Netting, close to the open Window, through which the warm Summer Air came refreshingly, without waving the white Curtains of the Bed. Mr. Fenwick's Window, which was also open, was immediately below; and through it I could hear Voices, and what they were saying. I should remark that I afterwards learnt from Prue, that, from the Time of my confining myself above Stairs, Mr. Fenwick, upon whom it had been her Portion to wait, had been uncommon restless and fidgetty.
He so seldom received a Visitor, that I was surprised to hear a Man's Voice in his Chamber. Nor did I at first think I had ever heard it before.