The servant announced Mrs. Sweeting, who was asked to come in.
"Sit down, Mrs. Sweeting. What can I do for you?"
"Well, sir, perhaps you may remember--and if you don't, I do--how you
helped my husband in that dreadful year 1825. I shall never forget that
act of yours, Dr. Midleton, and I'd stick up for you if Mrs. Bingham and
Mrs. Harrop and Mrs. Cobb and Miss Tarrant were to swear against you and
you a-standing in the dock. As for that Miss Tarrant, there's that a-
rankling in her that makes her worse than any of them, and if you don't
know what it is, being too modest, forgive me for saying so, I do."
"But what's the matter, Mrs. Sweeting?"
"Matter, sir! Why, I can hardly bring it out, seeing that I'm only the
wife of a tradesman, but one thing I will say as I ain't like the
serpent in Genesis, a-crawling about on its belly and spitting poison
and biting people by their heels."
"You have not yet told me what is wrong."
"Dr. Midleton, you shall have it, but recollect I come here as your
friend: leastways I hope you'll forgive me if I call myself so, for if
you were ill and you were to hold up your finger for me not another soul
should come near you night nor day till you were well again or it had
pleased God Almighty to take you to Himself.
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