"You think so? I never see her grow older."

"Not in the least older in mind or spirits; but she is not so strong,
nor so willing to exert herself, and she falls asleep more in the
afternoon. One reason for which I am less sorry to go on before, is
that I shall be able to judge whether the rooms are comfortable
enough for her, and I suppose we may change if they are not."

"To another place, if you think best."

"Only you will not let her stay at home altogether. That's what I'm
afraid of."

"She will only do so on the penalty of keeping me, and you may trust
her not to do that," said Joe, laughing with the confidence of an
only son.

"I shall come back and fetch you if you don't appear under a
fortnight. Did you do any more this morning to the great experiment,
Magnum Bonum?"

She spoke the words in a proud, shy, exulting semi-whisper, somewhat
as Gutenberg's wife might have asked after his printing-press.

"No. I haven't had half an hour to myself to-day; at least when I
could have attended to it. Don't be afraid, Carey, I'm not daunted
by the doubts of our good friends. I see your eyes reproaching me
with that."