I have tried everything upon her; I really have
been quite merciless. But it is of no use whatever; she is
absolutely GLUED. I have passed, in consequence, into the
exasperated stage. At first I had a good deal of a certain genial
curiosity about it; I wanted to see if she really would stick. But,
good Lord, one's curiosity is satisfied! I see she is capable of it,
and now she can let go."
"She will never let go," said Mrs. Almond.
"Take care, or you will exasperate me too. If she doesn't let go,
she will be shaken off--sent tumbling into the dust! That's a nice
position for my daughter. She can't see that if you are going to be
pushed you had better jump. And then she will complain of her
bruises."
"She will never complain," said Mrs. Almond.
"That I shall object to even more. But the deuce will be that I
can't prevent anything."
"If she is to have a fall," said Mrs. Almond, with a gentle laugh,
"we must spread as many carpets as we can." And she carried out this
idea by showing a great deal of motherly kindness to the girl.
Mrs. Penniman immediately wrote to Morris Townsend. The intimacy
between these two was by this time consummate, but I must content
myself with noting but a few of its features. Mrs. Penniman's own
share in it was a singular sentiment, which might have been
misinterpreted, but which in itself was not discreditable to the poor
lady.
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