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“Ay, dear!” she sighed again.
“What 's amiss, meesis?” asked Mr. Palethorpe, as soon as the emptied basin left him at liberty to speak.
“Nothing, Sammy,—nothing. Ay, dear! I'm quite well, as far as that goes,” replied Miss Maria very despondingly.
“But you have summat not right, I'm sure,” persisted he.
“Oh, it is of no matter!” she sighed again.
“But, what is it?” he a third time asked.