Nurse and Patient

           IhadnotbeenathomeagainmanydayswhenoneeveningIwentupstairsintomyownroomtotakeapeepoverCharley’sshoulderandseehowshewasgettingonwithhercopy-book.WritingwasatryingbusinesstoCharley,whoseemedtohavenonaturalpoweroverapen,butinwhosehandeverypenappearedtobecomeperverselyanimated,andtogowrongandcrooked,andtostop,andsplash,andsidleintocornerslikeasaddle-donkey.ItwasveryoddtoseewhatoldlettersCharley’syounghandhadmade,theysowrinkled,andshrivelled,andtottering,itsoplumpandround.YetCharleywasuncommonlyexpertatotherthingsandhadasnimblelittlefingersasIeverwatched."Well,Charley,"saidI,lookingoveracopyoftheletterOinwhichitwasrepresentedassquare,triangular,pear-shaped,andcollapsedinallkindsofways,"weareimproving.Ifweonlygettomakeitround,weshallbeperfect,Charley."ThenImadeone,andCharleymadeone,andthepenwouldn’tjoinCharley’sneatly,buttwisteditupintoaknot."Nevermind,Charley.Weshalldoitintime."Charleylaiddownherpen,thecopybeingfinished,openedandshuthercrampedlittlehand,lookedgravelyatthepage,halfinprideandhalfindoubt,andgotup,anddroppedmeacurtsy."Thankyou,miss.Ifyouplease,miss,didyouknowapoorpersonofthenameofJenny?""Abrickmaker’swife,Charley?Yes.""ShecameandspoketomewhenIwasoutalittlewhileago,andsaidyouknewher,miss.SheaskedmeifIwasn’ttheyounglady’slittlemaid—meaningyoufortheyounglady,miss—andIsaidyes,miss.