Alfred silenced him, and told Sarah he thought Miss Dodd ought to know the nature of this prescription before it went round the chemists.
He borrowed paper of Dick and wrote:
"Mr. Alfred Hardie presents his compliments to Miss Dodd, and begs leave to inform her that he has, by the merest accident, intercepted the enclosed prescription. As it seems rather a sorry jest, and tends to attract attention to Miss Dodd and her movements, he has ventured with some misgivings to send it back with a literal translation, on reading which it will be for Miss Dodd to decide whether it is to circulate.
"'On Wednesday, at ten P.M., let her go in a fly to the Town-hall, and dance with thirteen little { little dogs, puppies, whelps,} especially with mine: return home at six A.M. and sleep till dinner, and repeat the folly as occasion serves.'"
"Suppose I could get it into Miss's hands when she's alone?" whispered Sarah.
"You would earn my warmest gratitude."
"'Warmest gratitude!' Is that a warm gownd, or a warm clock, I wonder?"
"It is both, when the man is a gentleman, and a pretty, dark- eyed girl pities him and stands his friend."
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