It might have been merely through the association of these words with their sacredly quiet time, or it might have been through the larger association of the words with the Redeemer’s presence beside the bedridden; but here her dexterous fingers came to a stop on the lace-pillow, and clasped themselves around his neck as he bent down.  There was great natural sensibility in both father and daughter, the visitor could easily see; but each made it, for the other’s sake, retiring, not demonstrative; and perfect cheerfulness, intuitive or acquired, was either the first or second nature of both.  In a very few moments Lamps was taking another rounder with his comical features beaming, while Phoebe’s laughing eyes (just a glistening speck or so upon their lashes) were again directed by turns to him, and to her work, and to Barbox Brothers.

“When my father, sir,” she said brightly, “tells you about my being interested in other people, even though they know nothing about me—­which, by the bye, I told you myself—­you ought to know how that comes about.  That’s my father’s doing.”

“No, it isn’t!” he protested.

“Don’t you believe him, sir; yes, it is.  He tells me of everything he sees down at his work.  You would be surprised what a quantity he gets together for me every day.  He looks into the carriages, and tells me how the ladies are dressed—­so that I know all the fashions!  He looks into the carriages, and tells me what pairs of lovers he sees, and what new-married couples on their wedding trip—­so that I know all about that!  He collects chance newspapers and books—­so that I have plenty to read!  He tells me about the sick people who are travelling to try to get better—­so that I know all about them!  In short, as I began by saying, he tells me everything he sees and makes out down at his work, and you can’t think what a quantity he does see and make out.”

“As to collecting newspapers and books, my dear,” said Lamps, “it’s clear I can have no merit in that, because they’re not my perquisites.  You see, sir, it’s this way:  A Guard, he’ll say to me, ’Hallo, here you are, Lamps.  I’ve saved this paper for your daughter.  How is she a-going on?’ A Head-Porter, he’ll say to me, ’Here!  Catch hold, Lamps.  Here’s a couple of wollumes for your daughter.  Is she pretty much where she were?’ And that’s what makes it double welcome, you see.  If she had a thousand pound in a box, they wouldn’t trouble themselves about her; but being what she is—­that is, you understand,” Lamps added, somewhat hurriedly, “not having a thousand pound in a box—­they take thought for her.  And as concerning the young pairs, married and unmarried, it’s only natural I should bring home what little I can about them, seeing that there’s not a Couple of either sort in the neighbourhood that don’t come of their own accord to confide in Phoebe.”

She raised her eyes triumphantly to Barbox Brothers as she said: