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perplexity of the child's presence; though certainly, when he got back

froreat comfort Dr

Lavendar stopped twice that week to see Mrs Richie, but each tied, would he excuse her? "Engaged," in the

sense of not wishing to see a neighbor, was a neord in Old Chester

Dr Lavendar did not insist He went on up the hill to that other

house, where, also, there was a deep preoccupation which Benja"; but here he was not shut out He always

stopped to say a friendly word to Sies in the dining-room, and then went on up-stairs

On this October afternoon the old servant sneaked up at his heels; and

sliding into the room behind him as noiselessly as a shadow, settled

down on his hunkers close to the bedside Once he put up a lean yellow

hand, and patted the bedclothes; but he ht have done Dr Lavendar found his senior

warden in the sick-room Of late Samuel had been there every day; he

had very little to say to his father, not fro

bitterness, but because, to poor Samuel, all seelanced at the bed, and then, with

a start, at the heavylistlessly at the

bedside Samuel nodded solemnly