There had been a general reformation in
which Emlyn had only escaped dismissal through her mistress's favour,
pleading her orphanhood, her repentance, and her troth plight to the
good young man who had been attacked by those dissolute fellows,
though Mrs. Henshaw little knew how accountable was her favourite
maid for the attack.
So good and discreet was Emlyn, so affectionate her messages to
Stead, and so much brightness shone in his face on hearing them;
there was so much pleasure when she sent him an orange and he
returned the snowdrops he had made Rusha gather, that Patience began
to believe that Stead was right--that the shock was all the maiden
needed to steady her--and that all would end as he hoped, when he
should be able to resume his labours, and add to the sadly reduced
hoard.
It was not, however, till the March winds were over that Stead made
any decided step towards recovery, and began to prefer the sun to the
fire, and to move feebly and slowly about the farmyard, visiting the
animals, too few in number, for his skilled attention had been
missed.
Pages:
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299