For the moment she forgot the majesty of Mrs Chick, and, patting Florence hastily on the cheek, turned aside and suffered the tears to gush from her eyes, without waiting for a lead from that wise matron.
Mrs Chick herself lost, for a moment, the presence of mind on which she so much prided herself; and remained mute, looking on the beautiful young face that had so long, so steadily, and patiently, been turned towards the little bed.

But recovering her voice--which was synonymous with her presence of mind, indeed they were one and the same thing--she replied with dignity: 'Florence, my dear child, your poor Papa is peculiar at times; and to question me about him, is to question me upon a subject which I really do not pretend to understand.

I believe I have as much influence with your Papa as anybody has.

Still, all I can say is, that he has said very little to me; and that I have only seen him once or twice for a minute at a time, and indeed have hardly seen him then, for his room has been dark.

I have said to your Papa, "Paul!"-- that is the exact expression I used--"Paul! why do you not take something stimulating ?" Your Papa's reply has always been, "Louisa, have the goodness to leave me.