Perhaps
there was complicated trouble in store for her; impossible to say
how her father's deep-rooted and rankling antipathies might
affect her intercourse even with the two girls. But she was of
independent years; she must be allowed the choice of her own
friends. The pleasure she had in seeing Jasper under this roof,
in hearing him talk with such intimate friendliness, strengthened
her to resist timid thoughts.
'When will your sisters arrive?' she asked.
'I think in a very few days. When I have fixed upon lodgings for
them I must go back to Finden; then they will return with me as
soon as we can get the house emptied. It's rather miserable
selling things one has lived among from childhood. A friend in
Wattleborough will house for us what we really can't bear to part
with.'
'It must be very sad,' Marian murmured.
'You know,' said the other suddenly, 'that it's my fault the
girls are left in such a hard position?'
Marian looked at him with startled eyes. His tone was quite
unfamiliar to her.
'Mother had an annuity,' he continued. 'It ended with her life,
but if it hadn't been for me she could have saved a good deal out
of it.
Pages:
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228