gh to share
my ardent little Hetty's terrors and apprehensions, and willingly chose
to believe that the life dearest to me in the world would be sacrificed
if separated from mine. Was I wrong? I would not say as much now. I may
doubt about myself (or not doubt, I know), but of her, never; and Hetty
found in her quite a willing sharer in her alarms and terrors. I was for
imparting some of these to our doctor; but the good gentleman shut my
mouth. "Hush," says he, with a comical look of fright. "I must hear none
of this. If two people who happen to know each other chance to meet and
talk in my patients' room, I cannot help myself; but as for match-making
and love-making, I am your humble servant! What will the General do when
he comes back to town? He will have me behind Montagu House as sure as I
am a live doctor, and alive I wish to remain, my good sir!" and he skips
into his carriage, and leaves me there meditating. "And you and Miss
Hetty must have no meetings here again, mind you that," he had said
previously.

Oh no! Of course we would have none! We are gentlemen of honour, and so
forth, and our word is our word. Besides, to have seen Hetty, was not
that an inestimable boon, and would we not be for ever grateful? I am
so refreshed with that drop of water I have had, that I think I can hold
out for ever so long a time now. I walk away with Hetty to Soho, and
never once thought of arranging a new meeting with her. But the little
emissary was more thoughtful, and she asks me whether I go to the
Museum now to read? And I say, "Oh yes, sometimes, my dear; but I am too
wretched for reading now; I cannot see what is on the paper. I do not
care about my books. Even Pocahontas is wearisome to me. I..." I
might have continued ever so much further, when, "Nonsense!" she says,
stamping her little foot. "Why, I declare, George, you are more stupid
than Harry!"

"How do you mean, my dear child?" I asked.

"When do you go? You go away at three o'clock. You strike across on the
road to Tottenham Court. You walk through the village, and return by the
Green Lane that leads back towards the new hospital. You know you do! If
you walk for a week there, it can't do you any harm. Good morning, sir!
You'll please not follow me any farther." And she drops me a curtsey,
and walks away with a veil over her face.

That Green Lane, which lay to the north of the new hospital, is built
all over with houses now. In my time, when good old Georg