obligation. You shall pay me in kind directly, since you are so desirous
of it. I told you I was in love: you shall come with me and see my
mistress, to give me your opinion of her. Every man can be prudent for
his neighbour: even you no doubt can," added Wright, laughing. Wright's
mistress was a Miss Banks, only daughter to a gentleman who had set up
an apparatus for manufacturing woad. Mr. Banks's house was in their way
home, and they called there. They knocked several times at the door,
before any one answered: at last a boy came to hold their horses, who
told them that Mr. Banks was dead, and that nobody could be let into the
house. The boy knew nothing of the matter, except that his master died,
he believed, of a sort of a fit; and that his young mistress was in
great grief: "which I'm mortal sorry for," added he: "for she he's kind
hearted and civil spoken, and moreover did give me the very shoes I have
on my feet."

"I wish I could see her," said Wright; "I might be some comfort to her."

"Might ye so, master? If that the thing be so," said the boy, looking
earnestly in Wright's face, "I'll do my best endeavours."

He ran off at full speed through the back yard, but returned to learn
the gentleman's name, which he had forgotten to ask; and presently
afterwards he brought his answer. It was written with a pencil, and with
a trembling hand:

"My dear Mr. Wright, I cannot see you now: but you shall hear from me as
soon as I am able to give an answer to your last.

"S. BANKS."