"Oh," I replied, "I am able to return to all my little Duties now; you have too long worked for both."
"I don't think of that," replied she, with a little Disappointment in her Air; "Mr. Fenwick has got used to me now, and I thought you would be better for a little Rest."
"Ah, Prudence, Prudence!" thought I, as I pursued my Way, "this reminds me of the passing Shade on your Brow Yesterday Evening, when he was attending to Mrs. Gatty. Beware of playing, like a Moth, round a Candle, my dear little Sister, for it will lead to no good."
When I went in, Mr. Fenwick looked round briskly from his Writing-Table, with a Smile, exclaiming:
"Why, I have been expecting—oh! is it you, Mrs. Patty? (with a scarcely perceptible Change in his Voice); I have been expecting my Chocolate, I was going to say, this Half-Hour or more; but pray don't think me impatient—I'm sure I ought not to be so hungry, considering how you feasted me last Night. 'Tis a Sign of returning Health, I suppose."
"I fervently hope it may be, Sir," said I. "Most likely it is. I am sure every Thing in the Way of Nourishment this House contains is at your Service."
"Thank you, thank you," said he. "Yes, I really believe I am getting well—have turned the Corner, in Fact; and when I have taken this nice Chocolate, I think I shall go and bask in the Sun under those Elm-Trees yonder."
"Then I will put a Cushion for you, Sir, on the Garden-Seat, and a Foot-stool on the Grass before it; for indeed you must not get chilled!"
"Nay, you will coddle me too much—you have made me too luxurious a Fellow already. You don't suppose I had all these Vagaries in Shoreditch, do you? I want to be there again, though!—I long to return to my poor People; only, I don't know that my Voice is yet strong enough, either for Preaching or Reading. I must make Trial of it, Mrs. Patty; I must begin by small Degrees. I was thinking, that if you happened to be by yourselves this Evening, it might not be unagreeable to you for me to come down and read to you all for a little While—just for Practice."