runken lodgers, or
with poor dear Johnny's going to school, or with not getting
the rent paid, and all that, what's disturbing me now; but
only just the contrary."

As it was difficult to understand, without farther
explanation, how the contrary of these three things could be
disturbing Mrs. Denley's mind, Mr. Lacy looked at her
inquiringly, and she continued:

"You see, Sir, it is not exactly, as one might say, any
business of mine; and I mind well what is said in St. Paul's
Epistle to Timothy, that women should not be tattlers and
busy-bodies; but for all that, I hope it is no sin to wish a
young creature that's under one's roof, and that's dying by
inches--of something--the Lord only knows what--for Dr. Reid
doesn't. He saw her walking in, Sir, the other day, and I made
so bold as to ask her if she wouldn't speak to him, but she
wouldn't; and he says as how he can't guess what's the matter
with her; and if he can't, why, who should? Well, as I was
saying, Sir, I hope it isn't a sin to wish the poor young
thing not to die, without medicine for her body, or means of
grace for her soul."

"Assuredly, you are quite right in forming such a wish, and in
endeavouring to prevent so terrible an occurrence. But who is
the person you are alluding to?"

"She is my lodger, Sir, and has been for the last six weeks."

"What is her name?" inquired Mr. Lacy.

"Mrs. Rodney, Sir."

"Has she no friends that you know of? How came she to hear of
your lodgings?"

"Why, she stopped (on a Monday, I think it was) at the 'Rose,'
and she asked Mr. Chapman if he could tell her of a quiet kind
of respectable lodging in the town; now, Mr. Chapman is always
willing to do one a good turn. It was him, Sir, that sent
Johnny back to Ashby, on Tuesday last, in a return post-chaise,
after he had sprained his ancle. A very good man, and
a neighbourly, is Mr. Chapman; and, as I was saying, he likes
to do one a good turn; so that when the lady asked for decent
respectable lodgings, he said he knew of the very thing as
would suit her; and sure enough, the next morning she came to
see the rooms, and took them at once; and nothing would serve
her but to pay down at once the rent for six months; and when
I made so free as to say she had better not, for fear of
changing her mind about them, she grew quite savage like; for
all that she is a gentle-looking creature, and said as violent
as could be, 'It must be so--take the money.' Well, thought I
t