X

lydeath-bed.Thevicarwenteverydayandsatwithherandsaidthathecameawayrefreshed.Mrs.Morrisonreadherallthoseofherleafletsthatdescribedtheenthusiasmwithwhichothergoodpersonsbehaveinalikecase.LadyShuttleworthneverdrovethroughthevillagewithouttakinghersomepleasantgift—tea,orfruit,oreggs,orevenlittlepotsofjam,tobeeatendiscreetlyandinspoonfuls.Shealsopaidawomantolookinatshortintervalsduringthedayandshakeupherpillow.Kindnessandattentionandevenaffectioncouldnot,itwillbeadmitted,gofurtherallthreehadbeenheapedonMrs.Joneswithgeneroushandsandinreturnshehadexpressednosentimentsthatwerenotappropriate,andnever,neverhadbreathedthefaintestsuggestiontoanyofherbenefactorsthatwhatshereallywantedmostwasrum.Itshockedboththewomeninexpressibly,andpositivelypainedLadyShuttleworth.Mrs.MorrisonprivatelybelievedPriscillahadputtheideaintotheoldlady'shead,andbegantoregardherinsomethingofthelightofafiend. "Suppose,"saidPriscilla,"welookuponitasmedicine." "Butmydear,itisnotmedicine,"saidLadyShuttleworth. "Itispoison,"repeatedMrs.Morrison. "Howcanitbeifitdoeshersomuchgood?Imustkeepmypromise.Iwouldn'tdisappointherfortheworld.Ifonlyyou'dseenherdelight"—theyquivered—"you'dagreethatshemustn'tbedisappointed,poorolddyingthing.Why,itmightkillher.Butsupposewetreatitasamedicine,andIlockupthebottleandgoroundandgiveheralittlemyselfthreeorfourtimesaday—wouldn'tthatbeagoodplan?Surelyitcouldn'thurt?" "Thereisnolawtostopyou,"saidMrs.MorrisonandLadyShuttleworthstaredatthegirlinsilentdismay. "Icantryitatleast,"saidPriscilla"andifIfindit'sreallydoingherharmI'llleaveoff.ButIpromised,andshe'sexpectingitnoweveryminute.Ican'tbreakmypromise.Dotellme—istheCockandHensthatinnroundthecorner?Shetoldmeitwasbestthere." "ButyoucannotgoyourselftotheCockandHensandbuyrum,"exclaimedLadyShuttleworth,rousedtoenergyandhervoicewasfullofsodeterminedaprotestthatthevicar'swife,whothoughtitdidn'tmatteratallwheresuchayoungwomanwent,receivedafreshshock. "Whynot?"inquiredPriscilla. "Mydear,soonerthanyoushoulddothatI'll—I'llgoandbuyitmyself,"criedLadyShuttleworth. "Graciousheavens,"thoughtMrs.Morrison,perfectlystaggeredbythisspeech.HadLadyShuttleworthsuddenlylostherreason?Orwasshealreadyacceptingthegirlasherson'swife?Priscillalookedatheramomentwithgraveeyes."IsitbecauseI'magirlthatImustn't?"sheasked. "Yes.Foronething.But—"LadyShuttleworthshuthermouth. "Butwhat?"askedPriscilla. "Oh,nothing." "Ifit'snotthecustomofthecountryforagirltogoI'llsendMr.Morrison,"saidPriscilla. "SendMr.Morrison?"gaspedthevicar'swife. "What,thevicar?"exclaimedLadyShuttleworth. "No,no,"saidPriscillasmiling,"youngMr.Morrison.Iseehimovertheretyingupmycreepers.He'ssokind.He'llgo.I'llaskhim." Andnoddinggood-byeshehurriedoutofthegardenandovertohercottage,almostrunninginherdesirenottokeepMrs.Jonesanylongerinsuspense. Thetwowomen,rootedtotheground,watchedherasiffascinated,sawherspeaktoRobinonhisladder,sawhowhestartedanddroppedhisnails,sawhownimblyheclambereddown,andhowaftertheshortestparleytheinfatuatedyouthrushedawayatonceinthedirectionoftheCockandHens.Theonlythingtheydidnotseefromwheretheystoodwasthetwinkleinhiseye. "Idon'tthink,"murmuredLadyShuttleworth,"Idon'tthink,mydear,thatIquitecaretogointoMrs.Jonesto-day.I—IthinkI'llgohome." "SoshallI,"saidMrs.Morrison,bitingherlipstokeepthemsteady."Ishallgoandspeaktothevicar."