Kendal was a great deal too--with finally,
'Good-bye, Sophy, I wish I could have told grandmamma that you had
shown some feeling.'
'I believe,' said Albinia, 'that you would only be too glad if you
knew how.'
Sophy gasped.
Albinia could not help feeling indignant at the misjudged
persecution; and yet it seemed to render the poor child more entirely
her own, since all the world besides had turned against her. 'Kiss
her, Maurice,' she said, holding the little fellow towards her. That
scratched arm of hers has spared your small brains from more than you
guess.'
Sophy's first impulse was to hide her face, but he thought it was bo-peep,
caught hold of her fingers, and laughed; then came to a sudden surprised
stop, and looked up to his mother, when the countenance behind the
screen proved sad instead of laughing.
'Ah! baby, you had better have done with me,' Sophy said, bitterly;
'you are the only one that does not hate me yet, and you don't know
what I have done to you.'
'I know some one else that cares for you, my poor Sophy,' said
Albinia, 'and who would do anything to make you feel it without
distressing you. If you knew how I wish I knew what to do for you!'
'It is no use,' said Sophy, moodily; 'I was born to be a misery to
myself and every one else.'
'What has put such a fancy in your head, my dear?' said Albinia,
nearly smiling.
'Grandmamma's Betty said so, she used to call me Peter Grievous, and
I know it is so.
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