But for me he'd never be in these bad tempers;
it's because he can't look at me without getting angry. He says
I've kept him back all through his life; but for me he might have
been far better off than he is. It may be true; I've often enough
thought it. But I can't bear to have it told me like that, and to
see it in his face every time he looks at me. I shall have to do
something. He'd be glad if only I was out of his way.'
'Father has no right to make you so unhappy,' said Marian. 'I
can't see that you did anything blameworthy; it seems to me that
it was your duty to try and help Annie, and if it turned out
unfortunately, that can't be helped. You oughtn't to think so
much of what father says in his anger; I believe he hardly knows
what he does say. Don't take it so much to heart, mother.'
'I've tried my best, Marian,' sobbed the poor woman, who felt
that even her child's sympathy could not be perfect, owing to the
distance put between them by Marian's education and refined
sensibilities. 'I've always thought it wasn't right to talk to
you about such things, but he's been too hard with me to-day.
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