It had all
happened twenty-five years ago, but to the Superior it seemed
but as yesterday. The old hatred blazed up again, in the form,
as it doubtless appeared to her, of an anger righteous even
against the dead. Nor was the revival without its charms, with
all its old associations of strife and antagonism--like a
breeze blowing freshly from the outer world, and suddenly
stirring the slow, creeping current of her daily life.
"I never said I would not take charge of my niece," she said;
"on the contrary, I have every intention of so doing. I only
wish to make it clearly understood that my brother had no sort
of claim upon me, and that I consider every line of this
letter an insult."
"His child, at least, is innocent," began Graham.
"I am not likely to hold her responsible for her father's
misdeeds," says Madame, drawing herself up. "I repeat that I
am willing to receive my niece at once, though I cannot
suppose that with the education and training she has received,
she is likely to be anything but a burden and a care; however,
that can be looked to and corrected!"
"Indeed you will find her a most innocent and loveable child,"
pleaded Graham eagerly, and not without an inward dismay at
the idea of our little unconscious Madelon being looked to,
and corrected by this grim woman; "she thinks her father was
perfection, it is true, but it is through her total want of
comprehension of his real character, and of the nature of his
pursuits; and--believe me, Madame, it would be cruel to disturb
that ignorance.
Pages:
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269