Which sister's influence would be greater, Miss Meg?"
Meg's little soft mouth, was quivering, her eyes were on the ground,
because the tears would have splashed out if she had lifted them.
"Oh-h-h!" she said again. "Oh, how very horrid I have been--oh-h-h!"
She covered her face with her hands, for one of her quickly gathered
tears was trembling on her lashes.
Mr. Gillet dropped the strap and the pipe, and looked across to her
with tender eyes.
"I am more than twice your age, Miss Meg, old enough nearly to be
your father--you will forgive me for saying all this, won't you?
I was thinking, of my sister who died. I had another little sister,
too, a year older, but she was hard--only event to her once.
She is one of the best women in England now, but her lips are severe.
Little Miss Meg, could not bear the thought of you growing hard."
Half a dozen big tears had fallen down among the forks. Meg was
crying because it was borne upon her what a very hateful creature
she was. First Alan lectured her and spoke of his sister, and now
this man.
He misinterpreted her silence.
"I have no right to speak to you like this, because my life has been
any colour but white--that is it, isn't it, Miss Meg?" he said with
great sadness.
Pages:
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194