There was
also a postscript, this time with a new import:
"It has been reported that Coleman's daughter is a young female not
without a certain degree of attractiveness. It may perhaps, my dear
Thomas, be some day of service to me and to the church if you were to
inform me whether you have observed any tendencies towards
familiarity between George and this person. I need not at the
present moment give you my reasons for this inquiry. It will be
sufficient to say that I have nothing more in view than the welfare
of the flock which Divine Providence has committed to my charge."
Mr. Thomas did his duty, and a letter was received by his father on
the following Tuesday, which was carefully locked up in the drawer in
which the sermons were preserved.
The next day--that is to say, on Wednesday--George was at work, as
usual, when his little maid came to say that her mistress was very
bad, and would he go home directly? She had been unwell for some
days, but it was not thought that there was anything serious the
matter with her. George followed the girl at once, and found
Priscilla in bed with a violent headache and very feverish. The
doctor came, and pronounced it a case of "low fever," a disease well
enough known in Cowfold.
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