Hence she was not one to say
_our Father in heaven_, and act as if there were no such
Father, or as if he cared but little for his children. She was
even foolish enough to believe that that Father both knew and
cared that she was hungry and cold and wearily uncomfortable; and
thence she was weak enough to take the hunger and cold and
discomfort as mere passing trifles, which could not last a moment
longer than they ought. From her sore-tried endeavors after
patience, had grown the power of active waiting--and a genuinely
waiting child is one of the loveliest sights the earth has to
show.
This was not the reception she had pictured to herself, as the
train came rushing from Testbridge to London; she had not,
indeed, imagined a warm one, but she had not expected to be
forgotten--for so she interpreted her abandonment in the hall,
which seemed to grow colder every minute. She saw no means of
reminding the household of her neglected presence, and indeed
would rather have remained where she was till the morning than
encounter the growing familiarity of the man who had admitted
her. She did think once--if Mrs. Redmain were to hear of her
reception, how she would resent it! and would have found it
difficult to believe how far people like her are from troubling
themselves about the behavior of their servants to other people;
for they have no idea of an obligation to rule their own house,
neither seem to have a notion of being accountable for what goes
on in it.
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