Eighteen months ago she would have urged it on her
friend with soft, loving entreaty; now she was afraid even to
propose it as a hard possibility; everything she did or said was
taken so wrongly--seemed to add to the old dislike, or the later
stony contempt with which Miss Bradshaw had regarded her. While
they were in this way Mr. Bradshaw came into the room. His
entrance--his being at home at all at this time--was so unusual a
thing, that the reading was instantly stopped; and all four
involuntarily looked at him, as if expecting some explanation of
his unusual proceeding.
His face was almost purple with suppressed agitation.
"Mary and Elizabeth, leave the room. Don't stay to pack up your
books. Leave the room, I say!" He spoke with trembling anger, and
the frightened girls obeyed without a won A cloud passing over
the sun cast a cold gloom into the room which was late so bright
and beaming; but, by equalising the light, it took away the dark
shadow from the place where Jemima had been standing, and her
figure caught her father's eye.
"Leave the room, Jemima," said he.
"Why, father?" replied she, in an opposition that was strange
even to herself, but which was prompted by the sullen passion
which seethed below the stagnant surface of her life, and which
sought a vent in defiance. She maintained her ground, facing
round upon her father, and Ruth--Ruth, who had risen, and stood
trembling, shaking, a lightning-fear having shown her the
precipice on which she stood.
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