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ngthe?schylusrightsideupagainandbylaunchingforthintoalongandextremelybitterdissertationonthevariouswayspersonsofnointellectualconsciencehaveofill-treatingbooks,hegotridofsomeofhisagitationandfixedherattentionforthetimeonquestionslessfraughtwithcomplicationsthanclothesfromParis. Abouthalf-pasttwotheywerestillsittingovertheeggsandbreadandbutterthatPriscillaorderedthreetimesadayandthatFritzingatewithunquestioningobedience,whentheShuttleworthvictoriastoppedinfrontofthecottageandLadyShuttleworthgotout.Fritzing,politeman,hastenedtomeether,pushingasidethefootmanandofferinghisarm.Shelookedathimvaguely,andaskedifhisniecewereathome. "Certainly,"saidFritzing,leadingherintoPriscilla'sparlour."ShallIinquireifshewillreceiveyou?" "Do,"saidLadyShuttleworth,takingnoapparentnoticeoftheoddwordingofthisquestion."Tussieisn'twell,"shesaidthemomentPriscillaappeared,fixinghereyesonherfacebutlookingasthoughshehardlysawher,asthoughshesawpasther,throughher,tosomethingbeyond,whileshesaidalessonlearnedbyrote. "Isn'the?OhI'msorry,"saidPriscilla. "HecaughtcoldlastSundayatyourtreat.Heoughtn'ttohaverunthoseraceswiththeboys.Hecan't—stand—much." Priscillalookedatherquestioningly.Theoldlady'sfacewasquitesetandcalm,buttherehadbeenaqueercatchinhervoiceatthelastwords. "Whydoeshedosuchthings,then?"askedPriscilla,feelingvaguelydistressed. "Ahyes,mydear—why?Thatisaquestionforyoutoanswer,isitnot?" "Forme?" "OnTuesdaynight,"continuedLadyShuttleworth,"hewasillwhenhelefthometocomehere.Hewouldcome.Itwasaterriblenightforadelicateboytogoout.Andhedidn'tstayhere,Iunderstand.Hewentouttobuysomethingafterclosingtime,andstoodalongwhiletryingtowakethepeopleup." "Yes,"saidPriscilla,feelingguilty,"I—thatwasmyfault.Hewentforme." "Yesmydear.Sincethenhehasbeenill.I'vecometoaskyouifyou'lldrivebackwithmeandseeif—ifyoucannotpersuadehimthatyouarehappy.Heseemstobemuch—troubled." "Troubled?" "Heseemstobeafraidyouarenothappy.Youknow,"sheaddedwithalittlequaveringsmile,"Tussieisverykind.Heisveryunselfish.Hetakeseverybody'sburdensonhisshoulders.Heseemstobequitehauntedbytheideathatyourlifehereisunendurablyuncomfortable,anditworrieshimdreadfullythathecan'tgettoyoutosetthingsstraight.Ithinkifheweretoseeyou,andyouwereverycheerful,and—andsmiled,mydear,itmighthelptogethimoverthis." "Gethimoverthis?"echoedPriscilla."Ishesoill?" LadyShuttleworthlookedatherandsaidnothing. "OfcourseI'llcome,"saidPriscilla,hastilyringingthebell. "Butyoumustnotlookunhappy,"saidLadyShuttleworth,layingherhandonthegirl'sarm,"thatwouldmakematterstentimesworse.Youmustpromisetobeasgayaspossible." "Yes,yes—I'llbegay,"promisedPriscilla,whileherheartbecameasleadwithinheratthethoughtthatshewasthecauseofpoorTussie'ssufferings.Butwasshereally,sheaskedherselfduringthedrive?Whathadshedonebutaccepthelpeagerlyoffered?Surelyitwasveryinnocenttodothat?Itwaswhatshehadbeendoingallherlife,andpeoplehadbeendelightedwhensheletthembekindtoher,andcertainlyhadnotgotillimmediatelyafterwards.Wereyounevertoletanybodydoanythingforyoulestwhiletheyweredoingittheyshouldgetwetfeetandthings,andthentheircoldswouldbeuponyourhead?ShewasverysorryTussieshouldbeill,dreadfullysorry.Hewassokindandgoodthatitwasimpossi