Poor _Gatty_ stood transfixed and aghast; Lady _Grace_ gave a little Shriek, and ran to the door after Lady _Betty_; while the elder Lady, less absurdly timorous, stood at pause, looking at the poor Girl, who did, indeed, appear very much heated. "You are really ill, I believe, young Woman," said she stiffly. "What is to be done? You cannot go back with us in the Boat." And following Lady _Betty_, she held a Dialogue with her in the open Air. "She can't come near me; she shan't come near me," cries Lady _Betty_ vehemently; and then the three Ladies talked under their Breath. At length Lady _Mary_ returned. "Young Woman," says she; "Dear me, Mrs. _Patty_, you are very incautious, to hold her Hand that Way, with her Head resting on your Neck; there's no knowing what she may communicate." "I'm not afraid of her communicating any Harm, Madam," said I. "I have come to ask you," resumes Lady _Mary_, "whether you know of any decent Lodging, where this young Person may be placed till her Illness declares itself one Way or another. I suppose there must be plenty of People that would readily take her in." "Indeed, Madam," said my _Mother_, again taking up the Word, "if the Disorder be, as you seem to suppose, infectious, I do not see how we can ask any of our Neighbours to incur the Hazard of it; but, for myself, I am so little fearful of the Consequences, that I will undertake the Care of Mrs. _Gatty_, if Lady _Betty_ wishes it, till, as your _Ladyship_ says, her Illness declares itself one Way or another." "An excellent Plan! extremely well thought of," says Lady _Mary_. "Of course, Lady _Betty_ will remunerate you handsomely for your Trouble." "And Risk," put in my _Mother_. "And Risk," repeated Lady _Mary_; "though, I protest, I think there is none; but that the young Woman has merely been overheated, and taken a Chill upon it." Though Lady _Mary_ spoke not sincerely, yet her expressed Opinion was so much like my _Mother's_ real one, that the Arrangement was speedily concluded. And then, after as much Fuss in departing as they had made in arriving, these heartless Denizens of the Great World quitted us; full of themselves, caring very little for each other, and least of all for the poor Dependent left sick upon our Hands. "Thank Goodness they're gone!" exclaimed _Prudence_, as the last Rustle of Silk, and the last empty Laugh was heard. "And now, where to bestow our young Charge?" said my _Mother_. "Oh, how kind you are to me!" said _Gatty_; Tears rolling down her Cheeks. "Any Place will do." "I think _Prudence_ must sleep in the little Closet beyond my Chamber," said my _Mother_, "and then, _Patty_, you can share your Bed with Mrs. _Gatty_. You are not afraid, Child, are you?" "_Afraid, Mother?_ No!" [Illustration] CHAPTER II. _Mrs. Patty & Mrs. Gatty._