Page:The Adventures of David Simple (1904).djvu/223

 The raptures David felt at that moment, when Camilla had thus suddenly turned his thoughts on the consideration that he was the cause she was relieved from that most miserable of all conditions, Which she had just described, are not to be expressed, and can only be imagined by those people who are capable of the same actions. He could not forbear crying out, was he to live a thousand years, he could never meet with another pleasure equal to the thought of having served her; and said, if she thought herself any way oblieged to him, the only favour he had to ask of her in return was never to mention it more. She was amazed at his generosity; however, took no further notice of it, but went on thus with her story— "Whilst this hard-hearted woman, sir, was talking in this strain, a neighbour of hers, who accidentally came to see her, hearing her voice louder than usual (though she never spoke in a very low key); came up to us to know what was the matter. I took hold of her the moment she entered the room, and as soon as I could have an opportunity (for the landlady would hardly give me leave to speak) I told her ray case. The poor woman, though she worked for her bread, was so touched with what she heard, and with my brother's pale, languid look, that she pulled out sixpence and gave it me; this enabled me to support him two days, for his stomach was too weak to take anything but biscuits. As to myself, I swallowed nothing but dry bread and water, for I would not rob him of a farthing more than just served to keep me alive. The mistress of the house, as soon as this our benefactress was gone, began again in her old strain, and said she must send for the proper officers of the parish to which we belonged, and charge them with us, for she could not venture to bring any expense upon herself. I begged her, for God's sake, not to turn us out in