I have done nothing but contradict you, and snap at you,
whether right or wrong; and a pretty spectacle we must have made of
ourselves. Now I see that you have twice the sense and understanding
that I have, and are so unpretending as to be worth a hundred times
more. I wish with all my heart that I had taken your advice, and
that the Mechanics' Institute was at the bottom of the sea.'
Before Helen had recovered from her astonishment at this incoherent
speech, sufficiently to make any sort of reply, the rest of the party
were seen returning from St. Austin's, and Winifred and Edward
hastened towards the two sisters, to tell them all the wonders they
had seen.
During the remainder of that day, a few words in her mother's feeble
voice rung in Elizabeth's ears more painfully even than the text she
had mentioned the day before. It was, 'Lizzie, I know you will be a
kind sister to Kate and poor little Helen.'
In the course of the evening, Lady Merton found Anne and Helen alone
together in the drawing-room. Helen was reclining on the sofa, in a
dreamy state, her book half closed in her hand, and Anne was sitting
at the window, reading as well as she could by the failing light.
Pages:
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313