I could not bear to have no tidings of how it fared with thee.

Thou wilt not chide me for making this provision.

It came into my head so soon as I knew that peril of infection was like to come within these walls.

We must not let thee be shut quite away from us.

We may be able to give thee help, and in times of peril neighbours must play a neighbourly part." The tears stood in Gertrude's eyes.