She had yet to learn the lesson, that it
is more blessed to love than to be beloved; and, lonely as the
impressible years of her youth had been--without parents, without
brother or sister--it was, perhaps, no wonder that she clung
tenaciously to every symptom of regard, and could not relinquish
the love of any one without a pang.
The doctor who was called in to Elizabeth prescribed sea-air as
the best means of recruiting her strength. Mr. Bradshaw (who
liked to spend money ostentatiously) went down straight to
Abermouth, and engaged a house for the remainder of the autumn;
for, as he told the medical man, money was no object to him in
comparison with his children's health; and the doctor cared too
little about the mode in which his remedy was administered to
tell Mr. Bradshaw that lodgings would have done as well, or
better, than the complete house he had seen fit to take. For it
was now necessary to engage servants, and take much trouble,
which might have been obviated, and Elizabeth's removal effected
more quietly and speedily, if she had gone into lodgings. As it
was, she was weary of hearing all the planning and talking, and
deciding, and undeciding, and redeciding, before it was possible
for her to go. Her only comfort was in the thought that dear Mrs.
Denbigh was to go with her.
It had not been entirely by way of pompously spending his money
that Mr. Bradshaw had engaged this seaside house.
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