Gilbert's health had caused his studies to be often intermitted, but
Edmund had constantly received instructions in the Indian languages,
and whatever he learnt had been imparted to Sophia. It was piteous
to discover how much time the poor forlorn little girl had spent
sitting on the floor in the loft, poring over old grammars, and
phrase-books, and translations of missionary or government school-books
there accumulated--anything that related to India, or that
seemed to carry on what she had done with Edmund: and she had
acquired just enough to give her a keen appetite for all the higher
class of lore, which she knew to reside in the unapproachable study.
Those few familiar words from her father had overcome her, because, a
trivial greeting in themselves, they had been a kind of password
between her and her brother.
Mr. Kendal was greatly touched, and very remorseful for having left
such a heart to pine in solitude, while he was absorbed in his own
lonely grief; and Albinia ventured to say, 'I believe the greatest
pleasure you could give her would be to help her to keep up the
language.'
He smiled, but said, 'Of what possible use could it be to her?'
'I was not thinking of future use. It would be of immense present
use to her to do anything with you, and I can see that nothing would
gratify her so much. Besides, I have been trying to think of all the
new things I could set her to do.
Pages:
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211