CHAPTER XII. THE SHOWER
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eabito’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—Ishan’tstaytwominutes.”
“You’llbothstaywhilethisshowergetsowered,”saidNancy,asshestirredthefire,andplacedanotherchairbesideit“what!there’sroomforall.”
“Icanseebetterhere,thankyou,Nancy,”repliedI,takingmyworktothewindow,whereshehadthegoodnesstosuffermetoremainunmolested,whileshegotabrushtoremovethecat’shairsfromMr.Weston’scoat,carefullywipedtherainfromhishat,andgavethecatitssupper,busilytalkingallthetime:nowthankingherclericalfriendforwhathehaddonenowwonderinghowthecathadfoundoutthewarrenandnowlamentingtheprobableconsequencesofsuchadiscovery.Helistenedwithaquiet,good-naturedsmile,andatlengthtookaseatincompliancewithherpres