Walking up and down is only heating and agitating you more; sit
down here, and let me hear what gave you this alarm.'
The grave affection of his manner restrained her, and his presence
soothed the flutter of spirits; though she still devoted herself with
a sort of wilfulness to bear all the blame, until he said, 'This is
foolish, Albinia; it is of no use to look at anything but the simple
truth. This affection of the spine must be constitutional, and if
neglect have aggravated the evil, it must date from a much earlier
period than since she has been under your charge. If any one be to
blame, it is myself, for the apathy that prevented me from placing
the poor things under proper care, but I was hardly then aware that
Maria's solicitude is always in the wrong place.'
'But everybody declares that it was always visible, and that no one
could look at her without seeing that she was crooked.'
'Apres le coup,' said Mr. Kendal. 'I grant you that a person of more
experience might perhaps have detected what was amiss sooner than you
did, but you have only to regret the ignorance you shared with us
all; and you did your utmost according to your judgment.'
'And a cruel utmost it was,' said Albinia; 'it is frightful to think
what I inflicted, and she endured in silence, because I had not
treated her so that she could bear to speak to me.'
'That is over now,' said Mr. Kendal, 'you have conquered her at last.
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