Chapter 25

           

           Afterasoundnight’srestinachamberinthethatchedroof,inwhichitseemedthesextonhadforsomeyearsbeenalodger,butwhichhehadlatelydesertedforawifeandacottageofhisown,thechildroseearlyinthemorninganddescendedtotheroomwhereshehadsuppedlastnight.Astheschoolmasterhadalreadylefthisbedandgoneout,shebestirredherselftomakeitneatandcomfortable,andhadjustfinisheditsarrangementwhenthekindhostreturned.

           Hethankedhermanytimes,andsaidthattheolddamewhousuallydidsuchofficesforhimhadgonetonursethelittlescholarwhomhehadtoldherof.Thechildaskedhowhewas,andhopedhewasbetter.

           ‘No,’rejoinedtheschoolmastershakinghisheadsorrowfully,‘nobetter.Theyevensayheisworse.’

           ‘Iamverysorryforthat,Sir,’saidthechild.

           Thepoorschoolmasterappearedtobegratifiedbyherearnestmanner,butyetrenderedmoreuneasybyit,forheaddedhastilythatanxiouspeopleoftenmagnifiedanevilandthoughtitgreaterthanitwas;‘formypart,’hesaid,inhisquiet,patientway,‘Ihopeit’snotso.Idon’tthinkhecanbeworse.’

           Thechildaskedhisleavetopreparebreakfast,andhergrandfathercomingdownstairs,theyallthreepartookofittogether.Whilethemealwasinprogress,theirhostremarkedthattheoldmanseemedmuchfatigued,andevidentlystoodinneedofrest.

           ‘Ifthejourneyyouhavebeforeyouisalongone,’hesaid,‘anddon’tpressyouforoneday,you’reverywelcometopassanothernighthere.Ishouldreallybegladifyouwould,friend.

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