When Joseph heard it, he smiled, and thought he knew what
it meant.
Hesper was no sooner in London, than she wrote to Mary, inviting
her to go and visit her. But Mary answered she could no more
leave home, and must content herself with the hope of seeing Mrs.
Redmain when she came to Durnmelling.
So long as her husband lived, the time for that did not again
arrive; but when Mary went to London, she always called on her,
and generally saw Mr. Redmain. But they never had any more talk
about the things Mary loved most. That he continued to think of
those things, she had one ground of hoping, namely, the kindness
with which he invariably received her, and the altogether gentler
manner he wore as often and as long as she saw him. Whether the
change was caused by something better than physical decay, who
knows save him who can use even decay for redemption? He lived
two years more, and died rather suddenly. After his death, and
that of her father, which followed soon, Hesper went again to
Durnmelling, and behaved better to her mother than before. Mary
sometimes saw her, and a flicker of genuine friendship began to
appear on Hesper's part.
Mr. Turnbull was soon driving what he called a roaring trade. He
bought and sold a great deal more than Mary, but she had business
sufficient to employ her days, and leave her nights free, and
bring her and Letty enough to live on as comfortably as they
desired--with not a little over, to use, when occasion was, for
others, and something to lay by for the time of lengthening
shadows.
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