How much more he had talked to Constance than to
herself. Dolly wished she had not seen him to get into this
difficulty. She was tired, cold, and damp. Oh! if she had never gone,
and not been half caught by Uncle Regie!
CHAPTER XII.
A HUNT
Dolores was glad to recollect, when she awoke, that Uncle Reginald was
in the house. It was as if she had a friend of her own there who might
enter into all the ill-usage she suffered, and whom she could even
consult about Uncle Alfred, so far as she could do so without
disclosing all the underhand correspondence. She called doing so
betraying Constance, but, in truth, she shrank more from shocking him
with what he might think very wrong--since, after all, he belonged to
that hard-hearted generation of grown-up people who had no feeling nor
understanding of one's troubles.
As she went downstairs she was aware of an increasing hubbub, and
frequently looking over the balusters, perceived the top of Primrose's
wavy head above the close-cropped one of Uncle Regie, as, with her
mounted on his shoulder, he careered round the hall, with a pack of
others vociferating behind him;
There was a lull, for Lady Merrifield came out of her room just as
Dolores had paused; Primrose was put down, the morning salutations took
place, and Dolores had her full share of them. She was even allowed to
sit next her uncle at breakfast; but her rasher of bacon had not been
half eaten, before she had perceived that, as to possessing him as she
used to do at home, he was just as much everybody else's Uncle Regie as
hers, for during the time of their being stationed at Belfast, he had
been so often with them, that he was quite established as the prince of
playfellows.
Pages:
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193