'
Mr. Grewgious heard a terrible shriek, and saw no ghastly figure,
sitting or standing; saw nothing but a heap of torn and miry
clothes upon the floor.
Not changing his action even then, he opened and shut the palms of
his hands as he warmed them, and looked down at it.
CHAPTER XVI - DEVOTED
WHEN John Jasper recovered from his fit or swoon, he found himself
being tended by Mr. and Mrs. Tope, whom his visitor had summoned
for the purpose. His visitor, wooden of aspect, sat stiffly in a
chair, with his hands upon his knees, watching his recovery.
'There! You've come to nicely now, sir,' said the tearful Mrs.
Tope; 'you were thoroughly worn out, and no wonder!'
'A man,' said Mr. Grewgious, with his usual air of repeating a
lesson, 'cannot have his rest broken, and his mind cruelly
tormented, and his body overtaxed by fatigue, without being
thoroughly worn out.'
'I fear I have alarmed you?' Jasper apologised faintly, when he was
helped into his easy-chair.
'Not at all, I thank you,' answered Mr. Grewgious.
'You are too considerate.'
'Not at all, I thank you,' answered Mr. Grewgious again.
'You must take some wine, sir,' said Mrs. Tope, 'and the jelly that
I had ready for you, and that you wouldn't put your lips to at
noon, though I warned you what would come of it, you know, and you
not breakfasted; and you must have a wing of the roast fowl that
has been put back twenty times if it's been put back once. It
shall all be on table in five minutes, and this good gentleman
belike will stop and see you take it.
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