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andmetthetwoarrivingcomfortersinthefrontgarden. NowPriscilla'sandMrs.Jones'slastwordstogetherhadbeenthese: "IsthereanythingelseIcandoforyou?"Priscillahadasked,leaningovertheoldladyandpattingherarminfarewell. "No,deary—you'vedoneenoughalready,Godblessyourprettyface,"saidMrs.Jones,squeezingthefive-poundnoteecstaticallyinherhands. "Butisn'tthereanythingyou'dlike?Can'tIgetyouanything?See,Icanrunaboutandyouarehereinbed.TellmewhatIcando." Mrs.Jonesblinkedandworkedhermouthandblinkedagainandwheezedandclearedherthroat."Well,Idoknowofsomethingwouldcomfortme,"shesaidatlast,amidmuchembarrassedcoughing. "Tellme,"saidPriscilla. "Idon'tlike,"coughedMrs.Jones. "Tellme,"saidPriscilla. "I'llwhisperit,deary." Priscillabentdownherhead,andtheoldladyputhertwitchingmouthtoherear. "Why,ofcourse,"saidPriscillasmiling,"I'llgoandgetyousomeatonce." "NowGodforeverblessyourbeautifulface,darlin'!"shrilledMrs.Jones,quitebesideherselfwithdelight."TheCockand'Ens,deary—that'stheplace.Andthequartbottlesarethebestonegetsmorecomfortoutofthem,andthey'rethecheapestintheend." AndPriscillaissuingforthonthiserrandmetthearrivingvisitorsinthegarden. "Howdoyoudo,"shesaidinahappyvoice,smilinggailyatbothofthem.Shehadseenneithersinceshehaddismissedthem,butnaturallyshehadnevergiventhatstrangeproceedingathought. "Oh—howdoyoudo,"saidLadyShuttleworth,surprisedtoseeherthere,andwithaslightandveryunusualconfusionofmanner. Mrs.Morrisonsaidnothingbutstoodstifflyinthebackground,answeringPriscilla'ssmilewithastern,reluctantnod. "I'vebeentalkingtopooroldMrs.Jones.Yourson"—shelookedatMrs.Morrison—"toldmehowillshewas." "Didhe?"saidMrs.Morrison,hardlyraisinghereyesamomentfromtheground.Thisgirlwasherdoubleenemy:bound,whatevershedid,tomakeeitherafoolofhersonorofherdaughter. "SoIwentinandtriedtocheerherup.AndIreallybelieveIdid." "Wellthatwasverykindofyou,"saidLadyShuttleworth,smilinginspiteofherself,unabletowithstandthecharmofPriscilla'spersonality.HowsupremelyridiculousofMrs.Morrisontothinkthatthisgirlwasanadventuress.Sucharethedepthsofignoranceonecandescendtoifoneisburiedlongenoughinthecountry. "Now,"saidPriscillacheerfully,"shewantsrum,andI'mjustgoingtobuyhersome." "Rum?"criedLadyShuttleworthinavoiceofhorrorandMrs.Morrisonstartedviolently. "Isitbadforher?"saidPriscilla,surprised. "Bad!"criedLadyShuttleworth. "Itis,"saidMrs.Morrisonwithhereyesontheground,"poisonforbothbodyandsoul." "Dearme,"saidPriscilla,herfacefalling."Why,shesaiditwouldcomforther." "Itwillpoisonbothherbodyandhersoul,"repeatedMrs.Morrisongrimly. "Mydear,"saidLadyShuttleworth,"oureffortsarealldirectedtowardstrainingourpeopletokeepfromdrinking." "Butshedoesn'twanttodrink,"saidPriscilla."Sheonlywantstotasteitnowandthen.I'mafraidshe'sdying.Mustn'tshediehappy?" "Itisourduty,"saidMrs.Morrison,"toseethatourparishionersdiesober." "ButI'vepromised,"saidPriscilla. "Didshe—didsheaskforitherself?"askedLadyShuttleworth,agreatanxietyinhervoice. "Yes,andIpromised." Boththewomenlookedverygrave.Mrs.Jones,whowasextremelyoldandcertainlydying—notfromanyspecialdiseasebutfrommereinabilitytogoonliving—hadbeenuptothisashiningexampletoSymfordofthemannerinwhichChristianoldladiesoughttodie.Assuchshewascontinuallyquotedbythevicar'swife,andLadyShuttleworthhadfeltanhonestprideinthisorderedandseem