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50 he was anxious to en the kind old lady in all things, and partly, to tell the truth, because he was completely exhausted with into a gentle doze, from which.he was awakened by the light of a candle, which, peing brought near the bed, showed him a gentleman, a very large and loud-ticking gold watch in his hand, who felt his pulse, and said he was a great deal better. “You are a great deal better, are you not, my dear?" said the gentleman. c Yes, thank you, sir,” replied Oliver. “ Yes, I know you are,” said the gentleman: “ you’re hungry too, ant you?" 6 No, sir,” answered Oliver. “Hem!” said the gentleman. “No, I know you’re not. He is not hungry, Mrs. Bedwin,” said the gentleman, looking very wise. The old lady made a respectful inclination of the head, which seemed to say that she thought the doctor was a very clever man. The doctor appeared very much of the same opinion himself. * You feel sleepy, don’t you, my dear?” said the doctor. 6 No, sir,” replied Oliver. “No,” said the doctor with a very shrewd and satisfied look. " You’re not sleepy. Nor thirsty, are you?’ “Yes, sir, rather thirsty,” answered Oliver. “Just as I expected, Mrs. Bedwin,” said the doctor. “It’s very natural that he should be thirsty—perfectly natural. You may give him a little tea, ma’am, and some dry toast without any butter. Don’t keep him too warm, ma’am; but be careful that you don’t let him be too cold; will you have the goodness ?" The old lady dropped a curtsey; and the doctor, after tasting the cool stuff, and expressing a qualified approval thereof, hurried away: his boots creaking in a very important and wealthy manner as he went down stairs. Oliver dozed off again soon after this, and when he awoke it was nearly twelve o’clock. ‘The old lady tenderly bade him good-night shortly afterwards, and left him in charge of a fat old woman who had just come, bringing with her in a little bundle a small Prayer Book and a large nightcap. Putting the latter on her head, and the former on the table, the old woman, after telling Oliver that she had come to sit up with him, drew her chair close to the fire and went off into a series of short naps, and chokings, which, however, had no worse effect than causing her to rub her nose very hard, and then fall asleep in. And thus the night crept slowly on. Oliver lay awake for some time, counting the httle circles of light which the reflection of the rushlight-shade threw upon the ceiling, or tracing with his languid eyes the intricate pattern of the paper on the wall. ‘The darkness and deep stillness of the room were very solemn; and as they brought into the boy’s mind the thought that Death had been hovering there for many days and nights, and might yet fill it with the gloom and dread of his awful presence, he turned his face upon the pillow and fervently prayed to Heaven. Gradually he fell into that deep tranquil sleep which ease from recent suffering alone imparts; that calm and peaceful rest which it is pain to wake from. Who, if this were death, would be roused again to all the struggles and turmoils of life—to all its cares for the present, its anxieties for the future, and, more than all, its weary recollections of the past! It had been bright day for hours when Oliver opened his eyes; and when he did so, he felt cheerful and happy. ‘The crisis of the disease was safely past, and he belonged to the world again. In three days’ time he was able to sit in an easy-chair well propped up with pillows; and, as he was still too weak to walk, Mrs. Bedwin had him carried down stairs into the little housekeeper’s room, which belonged to her, where, having sat him up by the fireside, the good old lady sat herself down too, and, being in a state of considerable delight at seeing him so much better, forthwith began to cry most violently. 6 Neyer mind me, my dear,” said the old lady; “I’m only having a regular good cry. There, it’s all over now, and I’m quite comfortable.” “ You’re very kind to me, ma’am,” said Oliver. ‘Well, never you mind that, my dear,” said the old lady; “that’s got nothing to do with your broth, and it’s full time you had it, for the doctor says Mr. Brownlow may come in to see you this morning, and we must get up our best looks, because the better we look the more he'll be pleased.” And with this, the old lady applied herself to warming up in a little saucepan a basin full of broth strong
