fi e minutes afterwards and s unusual was quite gone then she was resolved to put through the whole of his performances before the coach came they took some time not so much on account of their variety as s reluctance and were still unfinished when it was heard at the door there was a hurried but parting between and herself and was to write to who was not to mind her letters being she said and was to write to and they had a second parting at the coach door and a third when in spite of the of miss would come running out once more to remind at the coach window about writing and to shake her curls at me on the box the stage coach was to put us down near garden where we were to take another stage coach for i was impatient for the short walk in the interval that might praise to me ah what praise it was how lovingly and fervently did it commend the pretty creature i had won with all her graces best displayed to my most gentle care how thoughtfully remind me yet with no pretence of doing so of the trust in which i held the orphan child never never had i loved so deeply and as i loved her that night when we had again alighted and were walking in the along the quiet road that led to the doctor s house i told it was her doing when you were sitting by her said i you seemed to be no less guardian angel than mine and you seem so now a poor angel she returned but faithful the clear tone of her voice going straight to my heart made it natural to me to say the cheerfulness that belongs to you and to no one else that ever i have seen is so restored have observed to day that i have begun to hope you are happier at home i am happier in myself she said i am quite cheerful and i glanced at the serene face looking upward and thought it was the stars that made it seem so noble there has been no change at home said after a few moments no fresh reference said i to � i wouldn t distress you but i cannot help asking � to what we spoke of when we parted last no none she answered i have thought so much about it you must think less about it that i confide in simple love and truth at last have no apprehensions for me she added after a moment the step you dread my taking i shall never take although i think i had never really feared it in any season of cool the personal history and experience reflection it was an unspeakable relief to me to have this assurance from i her own truthful lips i told her so earnestly and when this visit is over said i � for we may not be alone another time � how long is it likely to be my dear before you come to london again probably a long time she replied i think it will be best � for papa s sake � to remain at home we are not likely to meet often for some time to come but i shall be a good correspondent of s and we shall frequently hear of one another that way we were now within the little court yard of the doctor s cottage it was growing late there was a light in the window of mrs strong s chamber and pointing to it bade me good night do not be troubled she said giving me her hand by our misfortunes and anxieties i can be happier in nothing than in your i ness if you can ever give me help rely upon it i will ask you for it god bless you always in her beaming smile and in these last tones of her cheerful voice i seemed again to see and hear my little in her company i stood awhile looking through the porch at the stars with a heart full of love and gratitude and then walked slowly forth i had engaged a bed at a decent close by and was going out at the gate when happening to turn my head i saw a light in the doctor s study a half fancy came into my mind that he had been working at the dictionary without my help with the view of seeing if this were so and in any case of bidding him good night if he were yet sitting among his books i turned back and going softly across the hall and gently opening the door looked in i the first person whom i saw to my surprise by the sober light of the shaded lamp was he was standing close beside it with one of his skeleton hands over his mouth and the other resting on the doctor s table the doctor sat in his study chair covering his face with his hands mr sorely troubled and distressed was leaning forward touching the doctor s arm for an instant i supposed that the doctor was ill i hastily advanced a step under that impression when i met s eye and saw what was the matter i would have but the doctor made a gesture to detain me and i remained at any rate observed with a of his person we may keep the door shut we needn t make it known to all the town saying which he went on his toes to the door which i had left open and carefully closed it he then came back and took up his former position there was an show of compassionate zeal in his voice and manner more intolerable � at least to me � than any he could have assumed i have felt it incumbent upon 