If you will allow her to come and see you
again, Mrs. Wragge solemnly promises _not_ to lose her shoe next time.
_I_ don't believe her. What do you say? May she come?"
"Yes; whenever she likes," said Magdalen. "If I ever get well again, may
poor Mrs. Wragge come and stay with me?"
"Certainly, my dear. If you have no objection, I will provide her
beforehand with a few thousand impressions in red, blue, and yellow of
her own portrait ('You might have blown this patient away with a feather
before she took the Pill. Look at her now!'). She is sure to drop
herself about perpetually wherever she goes, and the most gratifying
results, in an advertising point of view, must inevitably follow. Don't
think me mercenary--I merely understand the age I live in." He stopped
on his way out, for the second time, and turned round once more at the
door. "You have been a remarkably good girl," he said, "and you deserve
to be rewarded for it. I'll give you a last piece of information before
I go. Have you heard anybody inquiring after you, for the last day or
two, outside your door? Ah! I see you have. A word in your ear, my dear.
That's Mr. Kirke." He tripped away from the bedside as briskly as ever.
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