If her head did but ache, I hung over her with the tenderest solicitude.

I refused her nothing.

When I found that she was impatient I chose the shortest sermon for our Sunday evening's worship, to the great discomfort of my mother." Phineas wondered whether this assertion as to the discomfort of old Mrs.Kennedy could possibly be true.

Could it be that any human being really preferred a long sermon to a short one,--except the being who preached it or read it aloud?
"There was nothing that I did not do for her.

I suppose you really do know why she went away, Mr.Finn ?" "I know nothing more than I have said." "I did think once that she was--" "There was nothing more than I have said," asserted Phineas sternly, fearing that the poor insane man was about to make some suggestion that would be terribly painful.