Talking at last brought back his cough with real violence, and he was
sent to bed; Albinia went up with him to see that his fire burnt. He
set Mr. Ferrars's drawing of the alms-houses over his mantelshelf.
'I shall nail it up to-morrow,' he said. 'I always wanted a picture
here, and that's a jolly one to look to.'
'It would be a beautiful beginning,' she said. 'I think your life
would go the better for it, Gibbie.'
'I suppose old nurse would be too grand for one,' he said, 'but I
should like to have her so near! And you must mind and keep old Mrs.
Baker out of the Union for it. And that famous old blind sailor! I
shall put him up a bench to sit in the sun, and spin his yarns on,
and tell him to think himself at Greenwich.'
Albinia went down, only afraid that his being so very good was a
dangerous symptom.
Sophy was far from well in the morning, and Albinia kept her
upstairs, and sent her godfather to make her a visit. He always did
her good; he knew how to probe deeply, and help her to speak, and he
gave her advice with more experience than his sister, and more
encouragement than her father.
Sophy said little, but her eyes had a softened look.
'One good thing about Sophy,' said he afterwards to his sister, 'is,
that she will never talk her feelings to death.'
'That reserve is my great pain. I don't get at the real being once
in six months.'
'So much the better for people living together.
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