An' 'ow's yer father's friend ?" "He's much better,--quite out of danger now,"-- replied Mary--"He's going to get up to-day." "David's 'is name, so I 'ears,"-- continued Mrs.Twitt; "I've never myself knowed anyone called David, but it's a common name in some parts, speshul in Scripter.

Is 'e older than yer father would 'a bin if so be the Lord 'ad carried 'im upright to this present ?" "He seems a little older than father was when he died,"-- answered Mary, in slow, thoughtful accents--"But perhaps it is only trouble and illness that makes him look so.

He's very gentle and kind.

Indeed,"-- here she paused for a second--then went on--"I don't know whether it's because I've been nursing him so long and have got accustomed to watch him and take care of him--but I've really grown quite fond of him!" Mrs.Twitt gave a short laugh.
"That's nat'ral, seein' as ye're lone in life without 'usband or childer,"-- she said--"There's a many wimmin as 'ud grow fond of an Aunt Sally on a pea-stick if they'd nothin' else to set their 'arts on.

An' as the old chap was yer father's friend, there's bin a bit o' feelin' like in lookin' arter 'im.