It will be a pleasure to us to have you here.

If you will excuse me now, I will go out and attend to my dinner, which I am afraid is getting behindhand." Left to herself, the nurse behaved in a manner which might be regarded as singular.

She rose from her seat, and approached the mirror.

She took a full survey of herself as she stood there, and laughed a short, hard laugh.

Then she made a formal courtesy to her own reflection, saying: "How do you do, Mrs.Hardwick ?" "Did you speak ?" asked the cooper, who was passing through the entry on his way out.
"No," answered the nurse, rather awkwardly.