CHAPTER XXXI.
SEPIA.
As naturally as if she had been born to that very duty and no
other, Mary slid into the office of lady's-maid to Mrs. Redmain,
feeling in it, although for reasons very different, no more
degradation than her mistress saw in it. If Hesper was
occasionally a little rude to her, Mary was not one to _accept_
a rudeness--that is, to wrap it up in resentment, and put it
away safe in the pocket of memory. She could not help
feeling things of the kind--sometimes with indignation and anger;
but she made haste to send them from her, and shut the doors
against them. She knew herself a far more blessed creature than
Hesper, and felt the obligation, from the Master himself, of so
enduring as to keep every channel of service open between Hesper
and her. To Hesper, the change from the vulgar service of Folter
to the ministration of Mary was like passing from a shallow
purgatory to a gentle paradise. Mary's service was full of live
and near presence, as that of dew or summer wind; Folter handled
her as if she were dressing a doll, Mary as if she were dressing
a baby; her hands were deft as an angel's, her feet as noiseless
as swift. And to have Mary near was not only to have a
ministering spirit at hand, but to have a good atmosphere all
around--an air, a heaven, out of which good things must momently
come. Few could be closely associated with her and not become
aware at least of the capacity of being better, if not of the
desire to be better.
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