Make them
happy, mother; let hem have all they want; and, if it be
possible, after my long neglect, teach them to love me."
The letter contained no mention of their mother; no allusion was
made to her. The girls marked the weeks go by in some little
trepidation. What if, after all, this father, whom they did not
remember, should not like them: Beatrice did not think such a
thing very probable, but Lillian passed many an hour in nervous,
fanciful alarm.
It was strange how completely all the old life had died away.
Both had felt a kind of affection for the homely farmer and his
wife--they sent many presents to them--but Beatrice would curl
her proud lip in scorn when she read aloud that "Mr. And Mrs.
Thorne desired their humble duty to Lady Earle."
Lady Earle felt no anxiety about her son's return; looking at his
daughters, she saw no fault in them. Beautiful, accomplished,
and graceful, what more could he desire? She inwardly thanked
Providence that neither of them bore the least resemblance to the
Thornes. Beatrice looked like one of the Ladies Earle just
stepped out from a picture; Lillian, in her fair, dove-like
loveliness, was quite as charming.
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