Then, after looking about the room, and looking full at Gilbert without seeing him, John Saltram fell back upon his tumbled pillows and closed his eyes.

Gilbert heard a slipshod step in the outer room, and turning round, found himself face to face with the laundress--that mature and somewhat depressing matron whom he had sought out a little time before, when he wanted to discover Mr.Saltram's whereabouts.
This woman, upon seeing him, burst forth immediately into jubilation.
"O, sir, what a providence it is that you've come!" she cried.

"Poor dear gentleman, he has been that ill, and me not knowing what to do more than a baby, except in the way of sending for a doctor when I see how bad he was, and waiting on him myself day and night, which I have done faithful, and am that worn-out in consequence, that I shake like a haspen, and can't touch a bit of victuals.

I had but just slipped round to the court, while he was asleep, poor dear, to give my children their dinner; for it's a hard trial, sir, having a helpless young family depending upon one; and it would but be fair that all I have gone through should be considered; for though I says it as shouldn't, there isn't one of your hired nurses would do more; and I'm willing to continue of it, provisoed as I have help at nights, and my trouble considered in my wages." "You need have no apprehension; you shall be paid for your trouble.

Has he been long ill ?" "Well, sir, he took the cold as were the beginning of his illness a fortnight ago come next Thursday.