He always behaved himself very decently at family prayers, and in your father’s absence said grace for us before and after meat.  Nor did he ever interrupt our privacy, but went into his own chamber when we went into ours.

He staid from Thursday to the Wednesday after, then he left us to go to Scarborough, from whence he returned the Saturday se’nnight, intending to stay with us a few days; but finding your sisters gone the day before to Lincoln, he would leave us on Sunday morning, for he said he might see the girls before they—­he and Patty—­set forward for London.  He overtook them at Lincoln, and had Mrs. Taylor, Emily, Kezzy, with the rest, to supper with him at the Angel.  On Monday they breakfasted with him; then they parted, expecting to see him no more till they came to London, but on Wednesday he sent his man to invite them to supper at night.  On Thursday he invited them to dinner, at night to supper, and on Friday morning to breakfast, when he took his leave of them and rode for London.  They got into town on Saturday about noon, and that evening Patty writ me an account of her journey.

Dear Jackey, I can’t stay now to talk about Hetty, but this-I
hope better of her than some others do.  I pray God to bless
you.  Adieu. 

          
                                                          S. W.

Hetty had been warned that her uncle and Patty would arrive on the Saturday.  She did not expect them before evening; nevertheless, in the forenoon she sallied out, and stopping in the market on her way to buy a large bunch of roses, walked to Johnson’s Court, where the door was opened to her by her own cook-maid—­a fearless, middle-aged Scotswoman who did not mind inhabiting an empty house, and whom she had sent to Uncle Matthew on the eve of his departure, as well to get her out of the way as to relieve him of his search for a carekeeper.

Janet noted that her mistress’s face was pale and her eyes unnaturally bright with want of sleep, but held her tongue, being ever a woman of few words.  Together the two dressed the table and set out the cold viands in case the travellers should arrive in time for dinner.  The rest of the meal would be sent in at a few minutes’ notice from the tavern at the entrance of the court.

Having seen to these preparations and paid a visit of inspection to the bedrooms, she set out on her way back to Frith Street just as St. Dunstan’s clock was striking eleven.  She left, promising Janet to return before nightfall.

Night was dusking down upon the narrow court as she entered it again out of the rattle of Fleet Street.  She had lost her springy gait, and dragged her legs heavily under the burden of the unborn child and a strain which during the past four or five days had become a physical torture.  She came out of her own thoughts with an effort, to wonder if the travellers had arrived.