Page:Hannah More (1887 Charlotte Mary Yonge British).djvu/91

Rh something deeper and calmer, and was only held to her old habits by her friendships with Mrs. Garrick and the other ladies whom she had learnt to love. She meant to spend more time in the country, in study and literary labour, while at the same time she and Patty attended to the various needs of the poor at Wrington, their own parish.

However, a new task was set before her. Mr. Wilberforce, who usually spent part of the Parliamentary recess at Bath for the sake of his health, came, on the eve of his thirtieth birthday, to make a short stay with his sister at Cowslip Green. The ladies there talked to him about the beauties of the Cheddar cliffs and caves, about ten miles distant. He drove over thither in his chaise, intending to spend the day in roaming about, lunching on the provisions sent by his hostesses, and enjoying alternately his book and the scenery.

To the surprise and dismay of the good sisters, he scarcely spoke when he came back, but at once shut himself up in his room, and they found their cold chicken and wine untasted in the carriage. They feared that he was unwell; but he came down to supper (at what, a century later, is dinner-time), and as soon as the servant had left the room, he exclaimed:

"Miss Hannah More, something must be done for Cheddar!"