Chapter II.
Mrs. Patty & Mrs. Gatty.
The Bed and Night-Clothes were soon prepared; and as I helped Mrs. Gatty to undress, I could not help noting, that though her Gown was of the plainest black Stuff, her under Garments were beautifully Fine, and fitted to a Nicety; which corroborated what she had said of her being a young Woman of good Condition. "You must not alarm yourself, Mrs. Gatty," said I; "you will very likely be quite well to-morrow."
"Don't call me Mrs. Gatty," says she. "Call me Gertrude, which is my proper Name, and it will put me in Mind of Home."
"Well, then, Mrs. Gertrude," said I.
"Not Mrs. at all, I entreat of you," said she, "plain, simple Gertrude."
"Simple Gertrude, you may be," said I, "but plain Gertrude, you certainly are not."
She smiled faintly, and said, "Ah, you are very Kind, and mean kindly; but the finest Compliment in the World is of little Value to me, compared with a Word of Kindness: and yours only pleases me so far as Kindness is expressed in it. And now, dear Mrs. Patty, let down the Curtain, and make the Chamber as dark as you can, and I will try to sleep; for my Head aches to Distraction, and there is Nothing you can do for me."