Pray console yourself, and take a little more wine." "But why, why won't she see me again ?" Miss Briggs bleated out.

"Oh, Matilda, Matilda, after three-and-twenty years' tenderness! is this the return to your poor, poor Arabella ?" "Don't cry too much, poor Arabella," the other said (with ever so little of a grin); "she only won't see you, because she says you don't nurse her as well as I do.

It's no pleasure to me to sit up all night.
I wish you might do it instead." "Have I not tended that dear couch for years ?" Arabella said, "and now--" "Now she prefers somebody else.

Well, sick people have these fancies, and must be humoured.

When she's well I shall go." "Never, never," Arabella exclaimed, madly inhaling her salts-bottle.
"Never be well or never go, Miss Briggs ?" the other said, with the same provoking good-nature.