“That she’ll die, child.”
“Die! die with that beautiful colour in her cheeks! How sorry her poor, poor brother will be! But she will not die, I’m sure, for she walks about and runs upstairs so lightly! Oh, you must be quite mistaken, I hope.”
“If I’m mistaken, Dr. Panado Cardamum’s mistaken too, then, that’s my comfort. He says, unless the waters work a miracle, she stands a bad chance; and she won’t follow my advice, and consult the doctor for her health.”
“He would frighten her to death, perhaps,” said Marianne. “I hope Frederick won’t go up to disturb her.”
“Lud, child, you are turned simpleton all of a sudden; how can your brother disturb her more than the real chimney-sweeper?”
“But I don’t think it’s right,” persisted Marianne, “and I shall tell him so.”
“Nay, Miss Marianne, I don’t commend you now. Young ladies should not be so forward to give opinions and advice to their elder brothers unasked; and I presume that Mr. Frederick and I must know what’s right as well as Miss Marianne. Hush! here he is. Oh, the capital figure!” cried Mrs. Theresa. “Bravo, bravo!” cried she, as Frederick entered in the chimney-sweeper’s dress; and as he spoke, saying, “I’m afraid, please your ladyship, to dirt your ladyship’s carpet,” she broke out into immoderate raptures, calling him “her charming chimney-sweeper!” and repeating that she knew beforehand the character would do for him.
Mrs. Theresa instantly rang the bell, in spite of all expostulation—ordered Christopher to send up the other chimney-sweeper—triumphed in observing that Christopher did not know Frederick when he came into the room; and offered to lay any wager that the other chimney-sweeper would mistake him for his companion. And so he did; and when Frederick spoke, the voice was so very like, that it was scarcely possible that he should have perceived the difference.
Marianne was diverted by this scene; but she started, when in the midst of it they heard a bell ring.
“That’s the lady’s bell, and we must go,” said the blunt chimney-sweeper.