CHAPTER XII. THE SHOWER

,butstillfarfromwell:shehadbeentryingtomakeaSundayshirtforherson,buttoldmeshecouldonlybeartodoalittlebitatitnowandthen,sothatitprogressedbutslowly,thoughthepoorladwanteditsadly.SoIproposedtohelpheralittle,afterIhadreadtoher,forIhadplentyoftimethatevening,andneednotreturntilldusk.Shethankfullyacceptedtheoffer.“An’you’llbeabito’companyformetoo,Miss,”saidshe“IlikeasIfeellonesomewithoutmycat.”ButwhenIhadfinishedreading,anddonethehalfofaseam,withNancy’scapaciousbrassthimblefittedontomyfingerbymeansofarollofpaper,IwasdisturbedbytheentranceofMr.Weston,withtheidenticalcatinhisarms.Inowsawthathecouldsmile,andverypleasantlytoo. “I’vedoneyouapieceofgoodservice,Nancy,”hebegan:thenseeingme,heacknowledgedmypresencebyaslightbow.IshouldhavebeeninvisibletoHatfield,oranyothergentlemanofthoseparts.“I’vedeliveredyourcat,”hecontinued,“fromthehands,orratherthegun,ofMr.Murray’sgamekeeper.” “Godblessyou,sir!”criedthegratefuloldwoman,readytoweepforjoyasshereceivedherfavouritefromhisarms. “Takecareofit,”saidhe,“anddon’tletitgoneartherabbit-warren,forthegamekeeperswearshe’llshootitifheseesitthereagain:hewouldhavedonesoto-day,ifIhadnotbeenintimetostophim.Ibelieveitisraining,MissGrey,”addedhe,morequietly,observingthatIhadputasidemywork,andwaspreparingtodepart.“Don’tletmedisturbyou—