| 173 | 174 | 175 | 176 | 177 |
| 1 | 133 | 265 | 398 | 530 |
|
Chapter XXV
After a sound night's rest in a chamber in the thatched roof, in which
it seemed the sexton had for some years been a lodger, but which he
had lately deserted for a wife and a cottage of his own, the child rose
early in the morning and descended to the room where she had
supped last night. As the schoolmaster had already left his bed and
gone out, she bestirred herself to make it neat and comfortable, and
had just finished its arrangement when the kind host returned.
He thanked her many times, and said that the old dame who usually
did such offices for him had gone to nurse the little scholar whom he
had told her of. The child asked how he was, and hoped he was better.
'No,' rejoined the schoolmaster shaking his head sorrowfully, 'no
better. They even say he is worse.'
'I am very sorry for that, Sir,' said the child.
The poor schoolmaster appeared to be gratified by her earnest
manner, but yet rendered more uneasy by it, for he added hastily that
anxious people often magnified an evil and thought it greater than it
was; 'for my part,' he said, in his quiet, patient way, 'I hope it's not so.
I don't think he can be worse.'
The child asked his leave to prepare breakfast, and her grandfather
coming down stairs, they all three partook of it together. While the
meal was in progress, their host remarked that the old man seemed
much fatigued, and evidently stood in need of rest.
'If the journey you have before you is a long one,' he said, 'and don't
press you for one day, you're very welcome to pass another night here.
I should really be glad if you would, friend.'
He saw that the old man looked at Nell, uncertain whether to accept
or decline his offer; and added,
'
I shall be glad to have your young companion with me for one day. If
you can do a charity to a lone man, and rest yourself at the same
time, do so. If you must proceed upon your journey, I wish you well
through it, and will walk a little way with you before school begins.'
'
What are we to do, Nell?' said the old man irresolutely, 'say what
we're to do, dear.'
It required no great persuasion to induce the child to answer that they
had better accept the invitation and remain. She was happy to show
her gratitude to the kind schoolmaster by busying herself in the
Page
Quick Jump
|