If Genevieve were sad at the proposal of leaving home and going among
strangers, she took care to hide all that could pain Mrs. Kendal, and
her cheerful French spirit really enjoyed the prospect of new scenes,
and bounded with enterprise at the hope of a new life and fresh field
of exertion.
'Perhaps, after all,' she said, smiling, 'they may make of me
something really useful and valuable, and it will all be owing to
you, dear madame. Drawing and Italian! When I can teach them, I
shall be able to make grandmamma easy for life!'
Genevieve skipped out of the carriage and into her aunt's arms, as if
alive only to the present delight of being at home again. It was a
contrast to Sophy's dolorous visage. Poor Sophy! she was living in a
perpetual strife with the outward tokens of sulkiness, forcing
herself against the grain to make civil answers, and pretend to be
interested when she felt wretched and morose. That Gilbert, after so
many ravings, should have relinquished, from mere cowardice, that one
hope of earning Genevieve by honourable exertion, had absolutely
lowered her trust in the exalting power of love, and her sense of
justice revolted against the decision that visited the follies of the
guilty upon the innocent. She was yearning over her friend with all
her heart, pained at the separation, and longing fervently to make
some demonstration, but the greater her wish, the worse was her
reserve.
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