We are never so cheerful as when she is at home.
She always had the art of diffusing peace, but now it is positive
cheerfulness. And about Leonard; I doubt if the wisest and most
thoughtful schoolmaster could teach half as much directly, as his
mother does unconsciously and indirectly every hour that he is
with her. Her noble, humble, pious endurance of the consequences
of what was wrong in her early life seems expressly fitted to act
upon him, whose position is (unjustly, for he has done no harm)
so similar to hers."
"Well! I suppose we must leave it alone for the present. You will
think me a hard practical man when I own to you, that all I
expect from Leonard's remaining a home-bird is that, with such a
mother, it will do him no harm. At any rate, remember my offer is
the same for a year--two years hence, as now. What does she look
forward to making him into, finally?"
"I don't know. The wonder comes into my mind sometimes; but never
into hers, I think. It is part of her character--part perhaps of
that which made her what she was--that she never looks forward,
and seldom back. The present is enough for her."
And so the conversation ended. When Mr. Benson repeated the
substance of it to his sister, she mused awhile, breaking out
into an occasional whistle (although she had cured herself of
this habit in a great measure), and at last she said--
"Now, do you know, I never liked poor Dick; and yet I'm angry
with Mr.
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