The Oxford Thackeray - v. 2 Author:William Makepeace Thackeray Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: chapter{Section 4PHILIP CHAPTER I DOCTOR FELL Ot attend her own son when he is ill!' said my mother. ' She does not deserve to have a son ! ' And Mrs. P... more »endennis looked towards her own only darling whilst uttering this indignant exclamation. As she looked, I know what passed through her mind. She nursed me : she dressed me in little caps and long-clothes : she attired me in my first jacket and trousers : she watched at my bedside through my infantile and juvenile ailments : she tended me through all my life : she held me to her heart with infinite prayers and blessings. She is no longer with us to bless and pray ; but from Heaven, where she is, I know her love pursues me ; and often and often I think she is here, only invisible. ' Mrs. Firmin would be of no good,' growled Dr. Goodenough. ' She would have hysterics, and the nurse would have two patients to look after.' ' Don't tell me,' cries my mother, with a flush on her cheeks. ' Do you suppose if that child' (meaning, of course, her paragon) ' were ill, I would not go to him ? ' ' My dsar, if that child were hungry, you would chop off your head to make him broth,' says the doctor, sipping his tea. ' Potage a la bonns fenrae,' says Mr. Pendennis. ' Mother, we have it at the club. You would be done with milk, eggs, and a quantity of vegetables. You would be put to simmer for many hours in an earthen pan, and ' ' Don't be horrible, Arthur !' cries a young lady, who was my mother's companion of those happy days. ' And people when they knew you would like you very much.' My uncle looked as if he did not understand the allegory. ' What is this you are talking about ? potage a la— what d'ye-call-'em ?' says he. ' I thought we were speaking of Mrs. Firmin, of Old Parr Street. Mrs. Firmin is a doosid delicat...« less