"For nervous persons the best precaution is to keep out of the way of infection." "You would recommend me to keep away from Marsh-End, then? Moxon is nearer, though it is in my parish." "I never recommend a man to dodge his duty. Mrs. Wallop will be of most use at present; she is just starting." "Mrs. Wallop? My wife has engaged her and paid her for a month in the event of any trouble coming amongst ourselves. You must surely be mistaken, Mr. Carnegie?" "Mrs. Wiley was mistaken. She did not know her woman. Good-morning to you, sir." CHAPTER XLI. _FRIENDS AND ACQUAINTANCES._ Mrs. Carnegie from the dining-room window witnessed the colloquy between the rector and her husband, and came out into the porch to receive her dear Bessie. "They will not expect you at Fairfield until they see you; so come in, love," said she, and Bessie gladly obeyed. The doctor's house was all the quieter for the absence of the elder boys at Hampton. The other children were playing in the orchard after school. "It is a great convenience to have a school opened here where boys and girls are both taught from four up to ten, and very nicely taught," said the mother. "It gives me a little leisure. Even Totty goes, and likes it, bless her!" Mr. Carnegie was not many minutes in-doors. He ate a crust standing, and then went away again to answer a summons that had come since he went out in the morning. "It will be a good opportunity, Bessie, to call on Miss Buff and Miss Wort, and to say a word in passing to the Semples and Mittens; they are always polite in asking after you," Mrs. Carnegie mentioned at the children's dinner. But Miss Buff, having heard that Miss Fairfax was at the doctor's house, forestalled these good intentions by arriving there herself. She was ushered into the drawing-room, and Bessie joined her, and was embraced and rejoiced over exuberantly. "You dear little thing! I do like you in your habit," cried she. "Turn round--it fits beautifully. So you have been having a ride with the doctor, and seeing everybody, I suppose? Mrs. Wiley wonders when you will call." "Oh yes, Bessie dear, you must not neglect Mrs. Wiley," said Mrs. Carnegie. "It will do some day with Lady Latimer--she has constant business at the rectory," Bessie said. She did not wish to waste this precious afternoon in duty-visits to people she did not care for. "Well, I was to have written to you, and I never did," recommenced Miss Buff. "Out of sight, out of mind: don't apologize!"