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and he found that when the fiery liquor was lowered by the addition
of twice or thrice the quantity of water； it was one of the
prettiest cures for a cold in the head that he had ever known；
particularly at this chilly time of the year。
Stockdale sat in the deep chair about twenty minutes sipping and
meditating； till he at length took warmer views of things； and
longed for the morrow； when he would see Mrs。 Newberry again。 He
then felt that； though chronologically at a short distance； it would
in an emotional sense be very long before to…morrow came； and walked
restlessly round the room。 His eye was attracted by a framed and
glazed sampler in which a running ornament of fir…trees and peacocks
surrounded the following pretty bit of sentiment：…
'Rose…leaves smell when roses thrive；
Here's my work while I'm alive；
Rose…leaves smell when shrunk and shed；
Here's my work when I am dead。
'Lizzy Simpkins。 Fear God。 Honour the King。
'Aged 11 years。
''Tis hers；' he said to himself。 'Heavens； how I like that name！'
Before he had done thinking that no other name from Abigail to
Zenobia would have suited his young landlady so well； tap…tap came
again upon the door； and the minister started as her face appeared
yet another time； looking so disinterested that the most ingenious
would have refrained from asserting that she had come to affect his
feelings by her seductive eyes。
'Would you like a fire in your room； Mr。 Stockdale； on account of
your cold？'
The minister； being still a little pricked in the conscience for
countenancing her in watering the spirits； saw here a way to self…
chastisement。 'No； I thank you；' he said firmly； 'it is not
necessary。 I have never been used to one in my life； and it would
be giving way to luxury too far。'
'Then I won't insist；' she said； and disconcerted him by vanishing
instantly。
Wondering if she was vexed by his refusal； he wished that he had
chosen to have a fire； even though it should have scorched him out
of bed and endangered his self…discipline for a dozen days。
However； he consoled himself with what was in truth a rare
consolation for a budding lover； that he was under the same roof
with Lizzy； her guest； in fact； to take a poetical view of the term
lodger； and that he would certainly see her on the morrow。
The morrow came； and Stockdale rose early； his cold quite gone。 He
had never in his life so longed for the breakfast hour as he did
that day； and punctually at eight o'clock； after a short walk； to
reconnoitre the premises； he re…entered the door of his dwelling。
Breakfast passed； and Martha Sarah attended； but nobody came
voluntarily as on the night before to inquire if there were other
wants which he had not mentioned； and which she would attempt to
gratify。 He was disappointed； and went out； hoping to see her at
dinner。 Dinner time came； he sat down to the meal； finished it；
lingered on for a whole hour； although two new teachers were at that
moment waiting at the chapel…door to speak to him by appointment。
It was useless to wait longer； and he slowly went his way down the
lane； cheered by the thought that； after all； he would see her in
the evening； and perhaps engage again in the delightful tub…
broaching in the neighbouring church tower； which proceeding he
resolved to render more moral by steadfastly insisting that no water
should be introduced to fill up； though the tub should cluck like
all the hens in Christendom。 But nothing could disguise the fact
that it was a queer business； and his countenance fell when he
thought how much more his mind was interested in that matter than in
his serious duties。
However； compunction vanished with the decline of day。 Night came；
and his tea and supper； but no Lizzy Newberry； and no sweet
temptations。 At last the minister could bear it no longer； and said
to his quaint little attendant； 'Where is Mrs。 Newberry to…day？'
judiciously handing a penny as he spoke。
'She's busy；' said Martha。
'Anything serious happened？' he asked； handing another penny； and
revealing yet additional pennies in the background。
'O nonothing at all！' said she； with breathless confidence。
'Nothing ever happens to her。 She's only biding upstairs in bed
because 'tis her way sometimes。'
Being a young man of some honour； he would not question further； and
assuming that Lizzy must have a bad headache； or other slight
ailment； in spite of what the girl had said； he went to bed
dissatisfied； not even setting eyes on old Mrs。 Simpkins。 'I said
last night that I should see her to…morrow；' he reflected； 'but that
was not to be！'
Next day he had better fortune； or worse； meeting her at the foot of
the stairs in the morning； and being favoured by a visit or two from
her during the dayonce for the purpose of making kindly inquiries
about his comfort； as on the first evening； and at another time to
place a bunch of winter…violets on his table； with a promise to
renew them when they drooped。 On these occasions there was
something in her smile which showed how conscious she was of the
effect she produced； though it must be said that it was rather a
humorous than a designing consciousness； and savoured more of pride
than of vanity。
As for Stockdale； he clearly perceived that he possessed unlimited
capacity for backsliding； and wished that tutelary saints were not
denied to Dissenters。 He set a watch upon his tongue and eyes for
the space of one hour and a half； after which he found it was
useless to struggle further； and gave himself up to the situation。
'The other minister will be here in a month；' he said to himself
when sitting over the fire。 'Then I shall be off； and she will
distract my mind no more！ 。 。 。 And then； shall I go on living by
myself for ever？ No； when my two years of probation are finished； I
shall have a furnished house to live in； with a varnished door and a
brass knocker； and I'll march straight back to her； and ask her
flat； as soon as the last plate is on the dresser！
Thus a titillating fortnight was passed by young Stockdale； during
which time things proceeded much as such matters have done ever
since the beginning of history。 He saw the object of attachment
several times one day； did not see her at all the next； met her when
he least expected to do so； missed her when hints and signs as to
where she should be at a given hour almost amounted to an
appointment。 This mild coquetry was perhaps fair enough under the
circumstances of their being so closely lodged； and Stockdale put up
with it as philosophically as he was able。 Being in her own house；
she could； after vexing him or disappointing him of her presence；
easily win him back by suddenly surrounding him with those little
attentions which her position as his landlady put it in her power to
bestow。 When he had waited indoors half the day to see her； and on
finding that she would not be seen； had gone off in a huff to the
dreariest and dampest walk he could discover； she would restore
equilibrium in the evening with 'Mr。 Stockdale； I have fancied you
must feel draught o' nights from your bedroom window； and so I have
been putting up thicker curtain