As Albinia wrote to Genevieve, they were in a state of siege, for
only in the middle of the day did Mr. Kendal allow the womankind to
venture out without an escort, the evening was disturbed by howlings
at the gate, and all sorts of petty acts of spite were committed in
the garden, such as injuring trees, stealing fruit, and carrying off
the children's rabbits. Let that be as it might, Genevieve owned
herself glad to come to hospitable Willow Lawn, though sorry for the
cause.
Poor Mr. Rainsforth, after vainly striving to recruit his health at
Torquay during the vacation, had been sentenced to give up his
profession, and ordered to Madeira, and Genevieve was upon the world
again.
The Kendals claimed her promise of a long visit, or rather that she
should come home, and take time and choice in making any fresh
engagement, nay, that she should not even inquire for a situation
till after Christmas. And after staying to the last moment when she
could help the Rainsforths, she proposed to spend a day or two with
her aunt at the convent, and then come to her friends at Bayford.
Mr. Kendal drove his ladies to fetch her. He had lately indulged the
household with a large comfortable open carriage with two horses, a
rival to Mr. O'More's notable car, where he used to drive in an easy
lounging fashion on one side, with Hyder Ali to balance him on the
other.
This was a grand shopping day, an endless business, and as the autumn
day began to close in, even Mr.
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