Mackenzie's voice was silent for the moment. I dare say Clive's
words were incoherent; but women have more presence of mind; and now
Ethel, with a noble grace which I cannot attempt to describe, going up to
Rosa, seated herself by her, spoke of her long grief at the differences
between her dearest uncle and herself; of her early days, when he had
been as a father to her; of her wish, her hope that Rosa should love her
as a sister; and of her belief that better days and happiness were in
store for them all. And she spoke to the mother about her boy so
beautiful and intelligent, and told her how she had brought up her
brother's children, and hoped that this one too would call her Aunt
Ethel. She would not stay now, might she come again? Would Rosa come to
her with her little boy? Would he kiss her? He did so with a very good
grace; but when Ethel at parting embraced the child's mother, Rosa's face
wore a smile ghastly to look at, and the lips that touched Ethel's
cheeks, were quite white.
Pages:
1803
1804
1805
1806
1807
1808
1809
1810
1811
1812
1813
1814
1815
1816
1817
1818
1819
1820
1821
1822
1823
1824
1825
1826
1827