My Pretty Sister 



but unable, only shaking his head. At 

 such a time I have seen her make a 

 pathetic effort to smile and draw the brown 

 hand down, with her little white fingers, 

 and press it to her lips. Other times, 

 when perhaps the bright colour in her 

 cheek led him to hope for returning health, 

 he would sit in the rocking-chair by her 

 bedside, showing her the flowers he had 

 brought her from the great market in 

 London, telling her of his horses — how the 

 mare had cast a shoe just outside Horley 

 and delayed the coach, how that old rascal 

 Boxer was just as full of life and fun as if 

 he were a chicken still. '' Full of frisk 

 and fun," he used to say, " and yet never a 

 touch of vice, never all his life a touch of 

 vice ; he'd be a perfect fine gentleman, if 

 he wasn't more like an angel ! " And then 

 when the time came for her to take her 

 food he begged Mary to let him give it to 

 her ; he seemed so thankful to be able to 

 do a little service for her, and would almost 

 make her laugh, in his anxiety that she 

 should take a whole jelly in place of her 

 customary spoonful. 



None of us ever spoke of John Miiller 

 now, indeed I had almost forgotten about 

 him, and, childlike, certainly saw no con- 

 nection between his absence and Esther's 

 167 



