CHAPTER XII. THE SHOWER

singinvitations,butrepeatedthathedidnotmeantostay. “Ihaveanotherplacetogoto,”saidhe,“andIsee”(glancingatthebookonthetable)“someoneelsehasbeenreadingtoyou.” “Yes,sirMissGreyhasbeenaskindasreadmeachapteran’nowshe’shelpingmewithashirtforourBill—butI’mfearedshe’llbecoldthere.Won’tyoucometoth’fire,Miss?” “No,thankyou,Nancy,I’mquitewarm.Imustgoassoonasthisshowerisover.” “Oh,Miss!Yousaidyoucouldstopwhiledusk!”criedtheprovokingoldwoman,andMr.Westonseizedhishat. “Nay,sir,”exclaimedshe,“praydon’tgonow,whileitrainssofast.” “ButitstrikesmeI’mkeepingyourvisitorawayfromthefire.” “No,you’renot,Mr.Weston,”repliedI,hopingtherewasnoharminafalsehoodofthatdescription. “No,sure!”criedNancy.“What,there’slotso’room!” “MissGrey,”saidhe,half-jestingly,asifhefeltitnecessarytochangethepresentsubject,whetherhehadanythingparticulartosayornot,“Iwishyouwouldmakemypeacewiththesquire,whenyouseehim.HewasbywhenIrescuedNancy’scat,anddidnotquiteapproveofthedeed.ItoldhimIthoughthemightbetterspareallhisrabbitsthanshehercat,forwhichaudaciousassertionhetreatedmetosomeratherungentlemanlylanguageandIfearIretortedatrifletoowarmly.” “Oh,lawfulsir!Ihopeyoudidn’tfalloutwi’th’maisterforsakeo’mycat!hecannotbideansweringagain—canth’maister.” “Oh!it’snomatter,Nancy:Idon’tcareaboutit,reallyIsaidnothingveryuncivilandIsupposeMr.Murrayisaccustomedtouseratherstronglanguagewhenhe’sheated.” “Ay,sir:it’sapity.” “Andnow,Ireallymustgo.Ihavetovisitaplaceamilebeyondthisandyouwouldnothavemetoreturninthedark:besides,ithasnearlydonerainingnow—sogood-evening,Nancy.Good-evening,MissGrey.” “Good-