She was a
useful assistant in the penny club and lending library, which
occupied Albinia on other mornings in the week, until the hour when
she came in for the girls' studies. After luncheon, she enjoyed the
company of little Maurice, who indeed pervaded all her home doings
and thoughts, for she had a great gift of doing everything at once.
A sharp constitutional walk was taken in the afternoon. She thought
no one could look drooping or dejected but from the air of the
valley, and that no cure was equal to rushing straight up one hill
and on to the next, always walking rapidly, with a springy buoyant
step, and surprised at any one who lagged behind. Parochial cares,
visits, singing classes, lessons to Sunday-school teachers, &c.,
filled up the rest of the day. She had an endless number of
'excellent plans,' on which she always acted instantly, and which
kept her in a state of perpetual haste. Poor Mrs. Dusautoy had
almost learnt to dread her flashing into the room, full of some
parish matter, and flashing out again before the invalid felt as if
the subject had been fairly entered on, or her sitting down to
impress some project with overpowering eagerness that generally
carried away the Vicar into grateful consent and admiring approval,
while his wife was feeling doubtful, suspecting her hesitation of
being ungracious, or blaming herself for not liking the little she
could do to be taken out of her hands.
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