Dusautoy will!
I wish Edmund knew him better--but oh! what a shy man it is!'
With a light step she went down-stairs, and found Mr Kendal waiting
for her in the dining-room, his face brightening as she entered.
'I am sorry Bayford should wear this heavy cloud to receive you,' he
said.
'It will soon clear,' she answered, cheerfully. 'Have you heard of
poor Gilbert this morning?'
'Not yet.' Then, after a pause, 'I have generally gone to Mrs.
Meadows after the morning service,' he said, speaking with
constraint.
'You will take me?' said Albinia. 'I wish it, I assure you.'
It was evidently what he wished her to propose, and he added, 'She
must never feel herself neglected, and it will be better at once.'
'So much more cordial,' said Albinia. 'Pray let us go!'
They were interrupted by the voices of the girls--not unpleasing
voices, but loud and unsubdued, and with a slight tone of
provincialism, which seemed to hurt Mr. Kendal's ears, for he said,
'I hope you will tune those voices to something less unlike your
own.'
As he spoke, the sisters appeared in the full and conscious rustling
of new lilac silk dresses, which seemed to have happily carried off
all Sophy's sullenness, for she made much more brisk and civil
answers, and ran across the room in a boisterous manner, when her
father sent her to see whether Gilbert were up.
There was a great clatter, and Gilbert chased her in, breathless and
scolding, but the tongues were hushed before papa, and no more was
heard than that the tooth was better, and had not kept him awake.
Pages:
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28