Book 3, Chapter 33

⁠​​​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌⁠“Close up his eyes and draw the curtain close; And let us all to meditation.”—2 Henry VI.

That night after twelve o’clock Mary Garth relieved the watch in Mr. Featherstone’s room, and sat there alone through the small hours. She often chose this task, in which she found some pleasure, notwithstanding the old man’s testiness whenever he demanded her attentions. There were intervals in which she coul