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when she first discovered that Caroline was profoundly ignorant of this most essential of attainments, she could have wept with pity over her miserably neglected youth. No time did she lose in seeking up a hopeless pair of hose, of which the heels were entirely gone, and in setting the ignorant English girl to repair the deficiency: this task had been commenced two years ago, and Caroline had the stockings in her work-bag yet. She did a few rows every day, by way of penance for the expiation of her sins. They were a grievous burden to hershe would much have liked to put them in the fire; and once Mr. Moore, who had observed her sitting and sighing over them, had proposed a private incremation in the counting-house. But to this proposal Caroline knew it would have been impolitic to accedethe result could only be a fresh pair of hose, probably in worse condition; she adhered, therefore, to the ills she knew. All the afternoon the two ladies sat and sewed, till the eyes and fingersand even the spirits of one of themwere weary. The sky since dinner had darkened; it had begun to rain again, to pour fast. Secret fears began to steal on Caroline that Robert would be persuaded by Mr. Sykes or Mr. Yorke to remain at Whinbury till it cleared, and of that there appeared no present chance. Five oclock struck, and time stole on; still the clouds streamed: a sighing wind whispered in the roof-trees of the cottage. Day seemed already closing: the parlour fire shed on the clear hearth a glow ruddy as at twilight. It will not be fair till the moon rises, pronounced Mademoiselle Moore; consequently, I feel assured that my brother will not return till then; indeed, I should be sorry if he did. We will have coffee; it would be vain to wait for him. I am tired. May I leave my work now, cousin? You may, since it grows too dark to see to do it well. Fold it up, put it carefully in your bag, then step into the kitchen, and desire Sarah to bring in the go\uc\ter, or tea, as you call it. But it has not yet struck six; he may still come. He will not, I tell you. I can calculate his movements. I understand my brother. Suspense is irksome, disappointment bitter. All the world has, some time or other, felt that. Caroline, obedient to orders, passed into the kitchen. Sarah was making a dress for herself at the table. You are to bring in coffee, said the young lady in a spiritless tone; and then she leaned her arm and head against the kitchen mantelpiece, and hung listlessly over the fire. How low you seem, miss! But its all because your cousin keeps you so close to work. Its a shame! Nothing of the kind, Sarah, was the brief reply. Oh! but I know it is. Youre fit to cry just this minute, for nothing else but because youve sat still the whole day. It would make a kitten dull to be mewed up so. Sarah, does your master often come home early from market when it is wet? Never, hardly; but just to-day, for some reason, he has made a difference. What do you mean? He is come; I am certain I saw Murgatroyd lead his horse into the yard by the back way, when I went to get some water at the pump five minutes since. He was in the counting-house with Joe Scott, I believe. You are mistaken. |
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