" He went
stupidly back to his writing, without looking to see whether his
wife had meant all she said; and after a moment's hesitation she
descended in fulfilment of her promise; or, perhaps rather it was a
threat.
She met Lemuel not unkindly, for she was a kind-hearted woman; but
she placed duty before charity even, and she could not help making
him feel that she was there in the discharge of a duty. She
explained that Mr. Sewell was very unusually busy that evening, and
had sent her in his place, and hoped soon to see him. She bade
Lemuel sit down, and he obeyed, answering all the questions as to
the summer and his occupations and health, and his mother's health,
which she put to him in proof of her interest in him; in further
evidence of it, she gave him an account of the Sewell family's
doings since they last met. He did not stay long, and she returned
slowly and pensively to her husband.
"Well?" he asked, without looking round.
"Well; it's all right," she answered, with rather a deep breath. "He
didn't seem to have come for anything in particular; I told him that
if he wished specially to speak with you, you would come down."
Sewell went on with his writing, and after a moment his wife said,
"But you must go and see him very soon, David; you must go to-
morrow."
"Why?"
"He looks wretchedly, though he says he's very well.
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