It was quite dark when I reached Home. Prudence, hearing my Voice, flew down Stairs and threw her Arms round my Neck all in Tears. I wept too, and never was there a more sisterly Meeting. She told me my dear Father was still very bad; and though my Mother kept up wonderfully, she was exerting herself so much for him that she would probably experience a dangerous Re-action. "But what can I do?" says Prue weeping, "I've hovered about him continually and done my very best; but whenever he's himself, he doesn't like my Nursing, and says, 'There, let me have your Mother till Patty comes back!'" And she cried bitterly.
I said, "Dear Prue, People when they are ill will take unaccountable Fancies; and we have a divided Duty, between the Sick-Room and the Shop. Let us each take that which suits us best; do you attend to the Business, which you understand so well, and I will help my Mother to nurse my Father."
She said, still crying, "I suppose that will be best; but I love him as well as you do, and you must let me take my Turn now and then, or my Heart will break."
I said, "I will, I will;" and all this While I was taking off my Wraps, and making ready to go up Stairs; but Prudence would make me take a Dish of Tea first, which was ready poured out, saying, that when I was once up-Stairs I should be close Prisoner, and my Father could not bear so much as the Click of a Spoon. She added, "Dr. Elwes is not afraid of the Brain now; but my Father is of such an inflammatory Habit that his Fever runs very high, and he is not always himself."
"And Mr. Fenwick?" said I. "Is not he truly concerned about it?"
"Mr. Fenwick?" cries she, "Why, Mr. Fenwick is not here now!"
"Not here now?" I exclaimed.
"Oh no, he returned to his Parish the Day before Father's Accident, thinking himself well enough to do Duty now, and we have not heard of him since."
I was struck dumb. I looked full at Prudence, who spoke and carried herself quite composedly. Seeing me look so hard at her, however, she blushed all over; Cheek, Neck, and Brow, one hot Flush; and started up to busy herself about some Trifle.