Poor Kate stood, drooping, too much constrained by dismay even to try
to cling to him, or run after him to the foot of the stairs.
"Now, Katharine," said her aunt, "come up with me to your Aunt Jane's
room. She has been so much distressed about you, that she will not
be easy till she has seen you."
Kate followed meekly; and found Aunt Jane sitting by the fire in her
own room, looking flushed, hot, and trembling. She held out her
arms, and Kate ran into them; but neither of them dared to speak, and
Lady Barbara stood up, saying, "She says she is very sorry, and thus
we may forgive her; as I know you do all the suffering you have
undergone on her account."
Lady Jane held the child tighter, and Kate returned her kisses with
all her might; but the other aunt said, "That will do. She must not
be too much for you again." And they let go as if a cold wind had
blown between them.
"Did Mr. Wardour bring her home?" asked Lady Jane.
"Yes; and was kind enough to propose taking her back again," was the
answer, with a sneer, that made Kate feel desperately angry, though
she did not understand it.
In truth, Lady Barbara was greatly displeased with the Wardours. She
had always been led to think her niece's faults the effect of their
management; and she now imagined that there had been some
encouragement of the child's discontent to make her run away; and
that if they had been sufficiently shocked and concerned, the truant
would have been brought home much sooner.
Pages:
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209