Wicket, when I'm gone."
"Yes," said Mrs. Wicket, "set your mind at rest."
"You've been very kind to me," said Mrs. Grumble, with difficulty.
"You've had a hard time of it here in Hillsboro. You're a good woman,
Mrs. Wicket. I'm glad you'll be here for him when he comes home. I
took care of him for twenty years. As though he were my own."
"I'll care for him the same," said Mrs. Wicket, "as though he were my
own."
Mrs. Grumble seemed to be content with this promise, for she remained
for some time sunk in silence. At last she said, "He'll come in time
for me to see him again. He won't leave me to die alone, not after I
took care of him for twenty years.
"I remember the time he brought me a bit of lace from the fair over to
Milford. He used to give me a lot of trouble. But he didn't forget to
bring me home a piece of lace from the fair. I put it on my petticoat.
"He's on his way home now, Mrs. Wicket: yes, I can feel he's coming
home."
Mrs. Wicket, who had been up with Mrs. Grumble the night before, let
her head droop forward on her breast.
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