The secret was
agitating her nerves, and destroying her tranquillity as much, or perhaps
more, than if she had known all.
Mrs. Dodd wrote from Portsmouth: whereof anon.
Mr. Peterson called, and soon after him Mr. Hurd. Edward was glad to see
them, especially the latter, whose visits seemed always to do Julia good.
Moreover, as Peterson and Hurd were rivals, it afforded Edward an
innocent amusement to see their ill-concealed aversion to one another,
and the admirable address and delicacy with which his sister conducted
herself between them.
However, this pastime was cut short by Sarah coming in and saying,
"There's a young man wants to see you, sir."
Julia looked up and changed colour.
"I think he is a fireman," said Sarah. She knew very well he was a
fireman, and also one of her followers. Edward went out and found one of
his late brethren, who told him a young gentleman had just been inquiring
for him at the station.
"What was he like?"
"Why, I was a good ways off, but I saw he was a tall one."
"Six feet?"
"Full that."
"Give you his name?'
"No: I didn't speak to him: it was Andrew.
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