Hesper
shrugged her shoulders, as much as to say she wondered at her
taste; but she did not believe that was in reality the cause of
her wish, and, setting herself to find another, concluded she did
not choose to show herself at Testbridge in her new position,
and, afraid of losing if she opposed her, let her have her way.
Nor, indeed, was she so necessary to her at Durnmelling, where
there were few visitors, and comparatively little dressing was
required: for the mere routine of such ordinary days, Jemima was
enough, who, now and then called by Mary to her aid, had proved
herself handy and capable, and had learned much. So, all through
the hottest of the late summer and autumn weather, Mary remained
in London, where every pavement seemed like the floor of a
baker's oven, and, for all the life with which the city swarmed,
the little winds that wandered through it seemed to have lost
their vitality. How she longed for the common and the fields and
the woods, where the very essence of life seemed to dwell in the
atmosphere even when stillest, and the joy that came pouring from
the throats of the birds seemed to flow first from her own soul
into them! The very streets and lanes of Testbridge looked like
paradise to Mary in Lon-don. But she never wished herself in the
shop again, although almost every night she dreamed of the glad
old time when her father was in it with her, and when, although
they might not speak from morning to night, their souls kept
talking across crowd and counters, and each was always aware of
the other's supporting presence.
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