'
Wilmet had evidently got all her household into their niches, and the
disarrangement puzzled her. A wonderful girl she was to contrive as
she did, and carry out her rule; but Sister Constance feared that a
little dryness might be growing on her in consequence, and that, like
many maidens of fifteen or sixteen, while she was devoted to the
little, she was impatient of the intermediate.
So when they went down, and Cherry heard of the scheme, and implored
against it in nervous fear of leaving home and dread of new faces,
Wilmet, having made up her practical mind that the going was
necessary, only made light of that value at home which was Cherry's
one comfort, and which made herself feel it so hard to part with her,
that this very want of tact was all unselfishness.
Felix was much more comfortable to Cherry when he made playful faces
at the bear-garden that the dining-room would become without her, and
showed plainly that he at least would miss her dreadfully. Still she
nourished a hope that Mamma would say she should not go; but Mamma
always submitted to the decrees of authority, and Wilmet and Felix
were her authorities now. Sister Constance felt no misgiving lest
Wilmet were hardening, when she heard the sweet discretion and
cheerful tenderness with which she propounded the arrangement to the
sick mother, without giving her the worry of decision, yet still
deferentially enough to keep her in her place as the head of the
family.
Pages:
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207