Still, she's willin'; that nobody can
deny, an' I'm sure I should never wish to. Her cirkinstances has
been peculiar; that you'll understand, I'm sure. But I done my best
to take the place of the mother as is gone to a better world. An'
now that she's layin' ill, I'm sure no mother could feel it more--'
'Ill? Why didn't you mention that before?'
'Didn't I say as she was ill? Why, I thought it was the first word I
spoke as soon as you got into the 'ouse. You can't a noticed it, or
else it was me as is so put about. What With havin' a burial--'
'Where is she?' asked the old man anxiously.
'Where? Why, you don't think as I'd a sent her to be looked after by
strangers? She's layin' in Mrs. Hewett's room--that's one o' the
lodgers--all for the sake o' comfort. A better an' kinder woman
than Mrs. Hewett you wouldn't find, not if you was to--'
With difficulty the stranger obtained a few details of the origin
and course of the illness--details wholly misleading, but devised
to reassure. When he desired to see Jane, Mrs. Peckover assumed an
air of perfect willingness, but reminded him that she had nothing
save his word to prove that he had indeed a legitimate interest in
the girl.
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