Lorrimer being
included among the number.
"Does Mr. Lorrimer suffer in that way?" Ideala had asked with interest.
"Indeed, yes," was the answer, given with many shakings of the head
and that air of importance and pleasure which vulgar bearers of bad
news assume. "He was very bad in the spring. He coughed so as never
was, and had to give in at last and keep his room, which he should
have done at first; but it takes a deal to make him give in, for he
takes no care of hisself though not strong, and we _were_ in a way!
Eh! but it would be a bad thing for this place if anything happened to
Mr. Lorrimer!" Ideala gave the woman half-a-crown.
"People may have bronchitis without being delicate," she asserted. "Mr.
Lorrimer is very kind to all of you, I suppose?" "If I was to tell you
all his good deeds, ma'am," the woman said, impressively, "I'd not have
done before to-morrow morning. But as to his not being delicate," she
continued--in the hope, perhaps, of scoring another on that point--
"why, it just depends on what you call delicate."
Ideala absently gave her another half-crown, and another after that,
but she could not get her to say that Mr.
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