It was quite dark when I reached Home. _Prudence_, hearing my Voice, flew down Stairs and threw her Arms round my Neck all in Tears. I wept too, and never was there a more sisterly Meeting. She told me my dear _Father_ was still very bad; and though my _Mother_ kept up wonderfully, she was exerting herself so much for him that she would probably experience a dangerous Re-action. "But what can I do?" says _Prue_ weeping, "I've hovered about him continually and done my very best; but whenever he's himself, he doesn't like my Nursing, and says, 'There, let me have your _Mother_ till _Patty_ comes back!'" And she cried bitterly. I said, "Dear _Prue_, People when they are ill will take unaccountable Fancies; and we have a divided Duty, between the Sick-Room and the Shop. Let us each take that which suits us best; do you attend to the Business, which you understand so well, and I will help my _Mother_ to nurse my _Father_." She said, still crying, "I suppose that will be best; but I love him as well as you do, and you must let me take my Turn now and then, or my Heart will break." I said, "I will, I will;" and all this While I was taking off my Wraps, and making ready to go up Stairs; but _Prudence_ would make me take a Dish of Tea first, which was ready poured out, saying, that when I was once up-Stairs I should be close Prisoner, and my _Father_ could not bear so much as the Click of a Spoon. She added, "Dr. _Elwes_ is not afraid of the Brain now; but my _Father_ is of such an inflammatory Habit that his Fever runs very high, and he is not always himself." "And Mr. _Fenwick_?" said I. "Is not he truly concerned about it?" "Mr. _Fenwick_?" cries she, "Why, Mr. _Fenwick_ is not here now!" "Not here now?" I exclaimed. "Oh no, he returned to his Parish the Day before _Father's_ Accident, thinking himself well enough to do Duty now, and we have not heard of him since." I was struck dumb. I looked full at _Prudence_, who spoke and carried herself quite composedly. Seeing me look so hard at her, however, she blushed all over; Cheek, Neck, and Brow, one hot Flush; and started up to busy herself about some Trifle. I felt a Pang, but it was for her, not myself. Poor _Prue_ found herself deserted! All my old Love for her resumed its Strength; but there was no Time now for Pity or Complaint--I rose up, saying, "Well, I will go up-Stairs now; keep yourself up, dear _Prue_; there's no knowing how much your Strength may be wanted." "There is not, indeed," said she, bursting into Tears afresh. I could not stand this--I said, "Come, _Prue_, come, ..." and put my Arm about her, and she laid her Head on my Shoulder. I was obliged to gulp down my own Tears, but I said gently, "This will never do--we must not give way--Only think how much more poor _Father_, and dear _Mother_ too, have to bear than we have. You must give over Crying, for indeed I cannot go up till you do."