"It may be your duty, but you know there ain't a many as would have done it," said his straight-forward wife, "as Mr. Vincent sees himself, and no need for nobody a-telling of him. There ain't a many as would have stood up for the pastor, right and wrong, and finished off with the likes of this, and the minister don't need us to say so. Dear, dear, Mr. Vincent, you ain't a-going away already, and us hasn't so much as seen you for I can't tell how long? I made sure you'd stop and take a bit of dinner at least, not making no ceremony," said Mrs. Tozer, "for there's always enough for a friend, and you can't take us wrong." Vincent had risen hurriedly to his feet, under the strong stimulant of the butterman's self-applause. Conscious as he was of all that Tozer had really done, the minister found it hard to listen and echo, with due humility and gratitude, the perfect satisfaction of the pair over their own generosity. He had no thanks to say when thus forestalled. "Oh, ma, how can you make so much of it?" cried Phoebe. "The minister will think us so selfish; and, oh, please Mr. Vincent, when you go home, will you speak to your mother, and ask her to let me come and help with her nursing? I should do whatever she told me, and try to be a comfort to her--oh, I should indeed!" said Phoebe, clasping those pink hands. "Nobody could be more devoted than I should be." She cast down her eyes, and stood the image of maidenly devotedness between Vincent and the window. She struck him dumb, as she always did. He never was equal to the emergency where Phoebe was concerned. He took up his hat in his hands, and tried to explain lamely how he must go away--how he had visits to make--duties to do--and would have stuck fast, and lost Mrs. Tozer's favour finally and for ever, had not the butterman interposed. "It's me as is to blame," said the worthy deacon. "If it hadn't have been as the pastor wouldn't pass the door without coming in, I'd not have had him here to-day; and if you women would think, you'd see. We're stanch--and Mr. Vincent ain't no call to trouble himself about us; but Pigeon and them, you see, as went off in a huff yesterday--that's what the minister has got to do. You shan't be kep' no longer, sir, in my house. Duty afore pleasure, that's my maxim. Good mornin', and I hope as you won't meet with no unpleasantness; but if you should, Mr. Vincent, don't be disheartened, sir--we'll pull you through."