"You are really ill, I believe, young Woman," said she stiffly. "What is to be done? You cannot go back with us in the Boat."
And following Lady Betty, she held a Dialogue with her in the open Air.
"She can't come near me; she shan't come near me," cries Lady Betty vehemently; and then the three Ladies talked under their Breath. At length Lady Mary returned.
"Young Woman," says she; "Dear me, Mrs. Patty, you are very incautious, to hold her Hand that Way, with her Head resting on your Neck; there's no knowing what she may communicate."
"I'm not afraid of her communicating any Harm, Madam," said I.
"I have come to ask you," resumes Lady Mary, "whether you know of any decent Lodging, where this young Person may be placed till her Illness declares itself one Way or another. I suppose there must be plenty of People that would readily take her in."
"Indeed, Madam," said my Mother, again taking up the Word, "if the Disorder be, as you seem to suppose, infectious, I do not see how we can ask any of our Neighbours to incur the Hazard of it; but, for myself, I am so little fearful of the Consequences, that I will undertake the Care of Mrs. Gatty, if Lady Betty wishes it, till, as your Ladyship says, her Illness declares itself one Way or another."
"An excellent Plan! extremely well thought of," says Lady Mary. "Of course, Lady Betty will remunerate you handsomely for your Trouble."
"And Risk," put in my Mother.