“In course I was, sir; perfessionally so; and recommended by the highest gentlemen of the physical persuasion.”
“Then, my good woman, I wonder why your patient didn’t take you along with her.”
“So do I, sir. That was a very sensible remark of yours; but you see, sir, she preferred to leave me here in care of the baggidge, which I will say this—that mind can’t conceive, nor tongue tell the trouble I’ve had to pertect them there two little red morocky trunks from being stoled or left behind!”
“Indeed?”
“True as I tell you, sir; so I don’t much wonder at the madam wanting of me to stay behind to watch them.”
“No, nor I,” said Dick, slily. “But, my good woman,” he added, “I think now that the best thing you can do is to go to your mistress.”
“Which such is my intention so to do sir; and I would be obliged to you if you would be so good as to speak to that there pig-headed landlord—begging your pardon, sir, but so he is—to let me have a decent horse and wagon, that won’t break down, to take me and the baggidge to the old hall, which, if you are going back there, sir, yourself, you can show me the way.”
“Yes,” said Dick, with good-natured alacrity, seeing at once how important it might be that Drusilla should have her nurse and her wardrobe. “Yes I will attend to it at once.”
And he arose and rang the bell, and told the waiter who answered it to send the landlord to him.
The slow host came sauntering in with his hands in his pockets, and in answer to Dick’s inquiries, deliberately acknowledged that he had “such a thing,” and a bargain was soon struck for a wagon, horse and driver to take mammy and her luggage to Old Lyon Hall.