Page:Tales of my landlord (Volume 4).djvu/193

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OLD MORTALITY.
185

Fairy-knowe, and, leaving all other things to the charge of Lady Emily's servant, his first care, was dedicated to the flowers which he had taken wider his special protection, and which he propped, dag, and watered, prosing all the while upon their respective merits to poor Jenny, who stood by him trembling, and almost crying with anxiety, fear, and impatience.

Fate seemed determined to win a match against Jenny this unfortunate morning. So soon as the ladies entered the house, they observed that the door of the little parlour, the very apartment out of which she was desirous of excluding them on account of its contiguity to the room in which Morton slept, was not only unlocked, but absolutely ajar. Miss Bellenden was too much engaged with her own immediate subjects of reflection to take much notice of the circumstance, but, commanding the servant to open the window-shutters, walked into the room along with her friend.