A House to Let Read Online Free PDF Page B

but will follow doctors' directions; which,
as you must see pretty clearly by this time, Norah won't; because they
give the poor little wench pain. Now, I'm not above being nesh for other
folks myself. I can stand a good blow, and never change colour; but, set
me in the operating-room in the infirmary, and I turn as sick as a girl.
Yet, if need were, I would hold the little wench on my knees while she
screeched with pain, if it were to do her poor back good. Nay, nay,
wench! keep your white looks for the time when it comes—I don't say it
ever will. But this I know, Norah will spare the child and cheat the
doctor if she can. Now, I say, give the bairn a year or two's chance,
and then, when the pack of doctors have done their best—and, maybe, the
old lady has gone—we'll have Norah back, or do better for her."
    The pack of doctors could do no good to little Ailsie. She was beyond
their power. But her father (for so he insisted on being called, and
also on Alice's no longer retaining the appellation of Mama, but becoming
henceforward Mother), by his healthy cheerfulness of manner, his clear
decision of purpose, his odd turns and quirks of humour, added to his
real strong love for the helpless little girl, infused a new element of
brightness and confidence into her life; and, though her back remained
the same, her general health was strengthened, and Alice—never going
beyond a smile herself—had the pleasure of seeing her child taught to
laugh.
    As for Alice's own life, it was happier than it had ever been. Mr.
Openshaw required no demonstration, no expressions of affection from her.
Indeed, these would rather have disgusted him. Alice could love deeply,
but could not talk about it. The perpetual requirement of loving words,
looks, and caresses, and misconstruing their absence into absence of
love, had been the great trial of her former married life. Now, all went
on clear and straight, under the guidance of her husband's strong sense,
warm heart, and powerful will. Year by year their worldly prosperity
increased. At Mrs. Wilson's death, Norah came back to them, as nurse to
the newly-born little Edwin; into which post she was not installed
without a pretty strong oration on the part of the proud and happy
father; who declared that if he found out that Norah ever tried to screen
the boy by a falsehood, or to make him nesh either in body or mind, she
should go that very day. Norah and Mr. Openshaw were not on the most
thoroughly cordial terms; neither of them fully recognising or
appreciating the other's best qualities.
    This was the previous history of the Lancashire family who had now
removed to London, and had come to occupy the House.
    They had been there about a year, when Mr. Openshaw suddenly informed his
wife that he had determined to heal long-standing feuds, and had asked
his uncle and aunt Chadwick to come and pay them a visit and see London.
Mrs. Openshaw had never seen this uncle and aunt of her husband's. Years
before she had married him, there had been a quarrel. All she knew was,
that Mr. Chadwick was a small manufacturer in a country town in South
Lancashire. She was extremely pleased that the breach was to be healed,
and began making preparations to render their visit pleasant.
    They arrived at last. Going to see London was such an event to them,
that Mrs. Chadwick had made all new linen fresh for the occasion-from
night-caps downwards; and, as for gowns, ribbons, and collars, she might
have been going into the wilds of Canada where never a shop is, so large
was her stock. A fortnight before the day of her departure for London,
she had formally called to take leave of all her acquaintance; saying she
should need all the intermediate time for packing up. It was like a
second wedding in her imagination; and, to complete the resemblance which
an entirely new wardrobe made between the two events, her husband brought
her back from Manchester, on the last market-day before they set off, a
gorgeous pearl and