The girl had, in fact, been named after a Spanish lady, whom her
mother had known and admired in early girlhood, and to whom she had
made a promise of naming her first daughter after her. No doubt
Dolores did not know that Mrs. Mohun had regretted the childish promise
which she had felt bound to keep in spite of her husband's dislike to
the name, which he declared would be a misfortune to the child.
Dolores was really proud of its peculiarity, and delighted to have any
one to sympathize with her, in that and a great deal besides, which she
communicated to her new friend in the window-seat of her room. When
the two ladies went home, Constance told her sister that 'dear little
Dolores was a remarkable character, sadly misunderstood among those
common-place people, the Merrifields, and unjustly used, too, and she
should do her best for her!'
Meantime Gillian, finding herself not wanted, had repaired to the
schoolroom.
'Oh, it is of no use,' sighed Mysie, disconsolately. 'I've ever so
much morning's work to make up, too. And I never shall! I've muzzled
my head!'
By which remarkable expression Mysie signified that fatigue, crying,
and dinner had made her brains dull and heavy; but Gillian was a
sensible elder sister.
'Don't try your sum yet, then,' she said. 'Practise your scales for
half an hour, while I do my algebra, and then we'll go over your German
verbs together. I'll tell Miss Vincent, and she wont' mind, and I
think mamma will be pleased if you try.
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