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 v v the personal history and experience reflection it was an unspeakable relief to me to have this assurance from 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 happiness 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 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 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 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doctor was ill i hastily advanced a step under that impression when i met s eye and saw what wa the matter i would have withdrawn but the doctor made a gesture to detain me and i remained at any rate observed with a of his person we may keep the door shut we needn t make it known to all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 me master said to point out to doctor strong what you and me have already talked about you didn t exactly understand me though i gave him a look but no other answer and going to my good old master said a few words that i meant to be words of comfort and op david he put his hand upon my shoulder as it had been his custom to do when i was quite a little fellow but did not lift his grey head as you didn t understand me master resumed in the same manner i may take the liberty of mentioning being among friends that i have called doctor strong s attention to the on of mrs strong it s much against the grain with me i assure you to be concerned in anything so unpleasant but really as it is we re all mixing ourselves up with what t to be that was what my meaning was sir when you didn t understand me i wonder now when i recall his that i did not collar him and try to shake the breath out of his body i dare say i didn t make myself very clear he went on nor you neither naturally we was both of us inclined to give such a subject a wide berth ever at last i have made up my mind to speak plain and i have mentioned to doctor strong that � did you speak sir this was to the doctor who had moaned the sound might have touched any heart i thought but it had no effect upon s � mentioned to doctor strong he proceeded that any one may see that mr and the lovely and agreeable lady as is doctor strong s wife are too sweet on one another really the time is come we being at present all mixing ourselves up with what t to be when doctor strong must be told that this was full as plain to everybody as the sun before mr went to india that mr made excuses to come back for nothing else and that he s always here for nothing else when you come in sir i was just putting it to my towards whom he turned to say to doctor strong upon his word and honor whether he d ever been of this opinion long ago or not come mr sir i would you be so good as tell us tes or no sir come partner for god s sake my 