And Mrs. Draper looked round, as if for some supposed companion of Rebecca's; but Rebecca answered,
"Now, I told you, Mrs. Draper, long ago, to talk no nonsense; and I'm here buying things, you see----"
"Ay, my dear; I see," said Mrs. Draper, looking no graver for being told that she talked nonsense. "I see; but how's the father?"
"Why, but middling. Father's a wonderful hearty man for his years, to be sure, considering some things."
"Ah! the ruin of the coast, which must have hurt his feelings. And dame,--how's the dame?"
"O, she's well, and hobbling about, as usual. And I hope she'll keep well. Dame and me are going to keep school--a boarding-school for girls."
Mrs. Draper laughed heartily at the idea of Rebecca teaching manners, as she said, and walking out behind her young ladies, two and two.
"Ah! you may laugh," answered Rebecca, good-humouredly; "and I know many people think I'm not a bit fit for it; but I don't care what pains I take--I don't care what I do, if I could but see father smile."
Mrs. Draper was struck dumb; for to her it seemed that Mr. Pim not smiling was not Mr. Pim at all. What could have happened to render it difficult for Rebecca to "make father smile?"
"It is not a venture, as it would be to set up a school in a town, to set one up in the country," observed Rebecca. "'Tis such a common thing, you know, to send children to the sea-side when they are delicate; and dame always took great care of our chilblains; and, for my part, I like nursing them when they are ill better than teaching,--ever so much. And, you know, I can teach sewing. I think much of needle-work; it is so useful! They shall do a deal of that.--And then we have the maps. I can teach them those; and they shan't stick to them too long. I remember, when I used to learn, how my back ached, and I used to get the fidgets, and think, 'Well, now, shall we ever leave off?' O, they shall go out and come in again; and we'll find them something to read that they will get amused with; and if anything more is wanting, why, father will help us, perhaps."