'Well, he can't look better, you know, dear, till there's a decided change. What does Doctor Buddle say?'
'He saw him yesterday morning. He thinks it's all from his stomach, and he's feverish; no meat. Indeed he won't eat anything, and you see the light hurts his eyes.
There was only a chink of the shutter open.
'But it is always so when he is ever so little ill, my precious little man; and I know if he thought it anything the least serious, Doctor Buddle would have looked in before now, he's so very kind.'
'I wish my darling could get a little sleep. He's very tired, nurse,' said Rachel.
'Yes'm, very tired'm; would he like his precious head lower a bit? No; very well, darling, we'll leave it so.'
'Dolly, darling, you and nurse must be so tired sitting up. I have a little wine at Redman's Farm. I got it, you remember, more than a year ago, when Stanley said he was coming to pay me a visit. I never take any, and a little would be so good for you and poor nurse. I'll send some to you.'
So coming down stairs Rachel said, 'Is the vicar at home?' Yes, he was in the study, and there they found him brushing his seedy hat, and making ready for his country calls in the neighbourhood of the town. The hour was dull without little Fairy; but he would soon be up and out again, and he would steal up now and see him. He could not go out without his little farewell at the bed-side, and he would bring him in some pretty flowers.
'You've seen little Fairy!' asked the good vicar, with a very anxious smile, 'and you think him better, dear Miss Lake, don't you?'
'Why, I can't say that, because you know, so soon as he's better, he'll be quite well; they make their recoveries all in a moment.'