The countess and Lady Davers, delighted to see such good behaviour in every one, sat a moment or two looking upon one another in silence; and then my Lady Davers took my hand:  “Beloved, deservedly beloved of the kindest of husbands, what a blessing art thou to this family!”—­“And to every family,” said the countess, “who have the happiness to know, and the grace to follow, her example!”—­“But where,” said Lady Davers, “collectedst thou all this good sense, and fine spirit in thy devotion?”—­“The Bible,” said I, “is the foundation of all.”—­Lady Davers then turning herself to Mrs. Jervis—­“How do you, good woman?” said she.  “Why you are now made ample amends for the love you bore to this dear creature formerly.”

“You have an angel, and not a woman, for your lady, my good Mrs. Jervis,” said the countess.

Mrs. Jervis, folding her uplifted hands together—­“O my good lady, you know not our happiness; no, not one half of it.  We were before blessed with plenty, and a bountiful indulgence, by our good master; but our plenty brought on wantonness and wranglings:  but now we have peace as well as plenty; and peace of mind, my dear lady, in doing all in our respective powers, to shew ourselves thankful creatures to God, and to the best of masters and mistresses.”

“Good soul!” said I, and was forced to put my handkerchief to my eyes:  “your heart is always overflowing thus with gratitude and praises, for what you so well merit from us.”

“Mr. Longman,” said my lady, assuming a sprightly air, although her eye twinkled, to keep within its lids the precious water, that sprang from a noble and well-affected heart, “I am glad to see you here, attending your pious young lady.—­Well might you love her, honest man!—­I did not know there was so excellent a creature in any rank.”

“Madam,” said the other worthy heart, unable to speak but in broken sentences, “you don’t know—­indeed you don’t, what a—­what a—­hap—­happy—­family we are!—­Truly, we are like unto Alexander’s soldiers, every one fit to be a general; so well do we all know our duties, and practise them too, let me say.—­Nay, and please your ladyship, we all of us long till morning comes, thus to attend my lady; and after that is past, we long for evening, for the same purpose:  for she is so good to us—­You cannot think how good she is!  But permit your honoured father’s old servant to say one word more, that though we are always pleased and joyful on these occasions; yet we are in transports to see our master’s noble sister thus favouring us—­with your ladyship too,” (to the countess)—­“and approving our young lady’s conduct and piety.”

“Blessing on you all!” said my lady.  “Let us go, my lady;—­let us go, sister, for I cannot stop any longer!”

As I slid by, following their ladyships—­“How do you, Mr. Colbrand?” said I softly:  “I feared you were not well in the morning.”  He bowed—­“Pardon me, Madam—­I was leetel indispose, dat ish true!”