? ? ? ? I remarked that my mother, though she smiled when Peggotty looked at her, became more serious and thoughtful. I had seen at first that she was changed. Her face was very pretty still, but it looked careworn, and too delicate; and her hand was so thin and white that it seemed to me to be almost transparent. But the change to which I now refer was superadded to this: it was in her manner, which became anxious and fluttered. At last she said, putting out her hand, and laying it affectionately on the hand of her old servant,
? ? ? ? 'Peggotty, dear, you are not going to be married?'
? ? ? ? 'Me, ma'am?' returned Peggotty, staring. 'Lord bless you, no!'
? ? ? ? 'Not just yet?' said my mother, tenderly.
? ? ? ? 'Never!' cried Peggotty.
? ? ? ? My mother took her hand, and said:
? ? ? ? 'Don't leave me, Peggotty. Stay with me. It will not be for long, perhaps. What should I ever do without you!'
? ? ? ? 'Me leave you, my precious!' cried Peggotty. 'Not for all the world and his wife. Why, what's put that in your silly little head?' - For Peggotty had been used of old to talk to my mother sometimes like a child.
? ? ? ? But my mother made no answer, except to thank her, and Peggotty went running on in her own fashion.
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