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'So the day has come at length, Susan, said Florence to the excellent Nipper, 'when we are going back to our quiet home! Susan drew in her breath with an amount of expression not easily described, further relieving her feelings with a smart cough, answered, 'Very quiet indeed, Miss Floy, no doubt. Excessive so.
By little and little he got tired of the bustle of the day, the noise of the carriages and carts, and people passing and repassing; and would fall asleep or be troubled with a restless and uneasy sense of a rushing river. "Why will it never stop, Floy?" he would sometimes ask her. "It is bearing me away, I think!" But Floy could always soothe him.
'Papa thinks well of Mrs Pipchin, Susan, returned Florence, 'and has a right to choose his housekeeper, you know. Pray don't! 'Well Miss Floy, returned the Nipper, 'when you say don't, I never do I hope but Mrs Pipchin acts like early gooseberries upon me Miss, and nothing less.
He liked him for it. He was not afraid. The people in the room were always changing, and in the night-time Paul began to wonder languidly who the figure was, with its head upon its hand, that returned so often and remained so long. "Floy," he said, "what is that there at the bottom of the bed?" "There's nothing there except papa." The figure lifted up its head and rose, and said, "My own boy!
"Nothing, darling, nothing," returned Florence. Paul touched her cheek gently with his finger, and it was a tear. "We'll go home together, and I'll nurse you, love," said Florence. "Nurse me?" echoed Paul. "Floy," said Paul, holding a ringlet of her dark hair in his hand. "Tell me, dear. Do you think I have grown old-fashioned?" His sister laughed, and fondled him and told him, "No."
'It is bearing me away, I think! But Floy could always soothe and reassure him; and it was his daily delight to make her lay her head down on his pillow, and take some rest.
'As to wages dear Miss Floy, she said, 'you wouldn't hint and wrong me so as think of naming them, for I've put money by and wouldn't sell my love and duty at a time like this even if the Savings' Banks and me were total strangers or the Banks were broke to pieces, but you've never been without me darling from the time your poor dear Ma was took away, and though I'm nothing to be boasted of you're used to me and oh my own dear mistress through so many years don't think of going anywhere without me, for it mustn't and can't be!
But this figure with its head upon its hand returned so often, and remained so long, and sat so still and solemn, never speaking, never being spoken to, and rarely lifting up its face, that Paul began to wonder languidly, if it were real; and in the night-time saw it sitting there, with fear. 'Floy! he said. 'What is that? 'Where, dearest? 'There! at the bottom of the bed.
"Now lay me down," he said, "and, Floy, come close to me, and let me see you." Sister and brother wound their arms around each other, and the golden light came streaming in, and fell upon them, locked together. "How fast the river runs, between its green banks and the rushes, Floy. But it's very near the sea. I hear the waves."
'I have seen, said Susan Nipper, 'Miss Floy strive and strive when nothing but a child so sweet and patient that the best of women might have copied from her, I've seen her sitting nights together half the night through to help her delicate brother with his learning, I've seen her helping him and watching him at other times some well know when I've seen her, with no encouragement and no help, grow up to be a lady, thank God! that is the grace and pride of every company she goes in, and I've always seen her cruelly neglected and keenly feeling of it I say to some and all, I have! and never said one word, but ordering one's self lowly and reverently towards one's betters, is not to be a worshipper of graven images, and I will and must speak!
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