There was something, too, that Mysie could
not have described, but which she liked, in the manner in which, on
this morning, Dolores accepted small acts of good nature, such as
finding a book for her, getting a new pen and helping her to the
whereabouts of a Scriptural reference. It seemed for the first time as
if she liked to receive a kindness, and her 'thank you' really had a
sound of thanks, instead of being much more like 'I wish you would
not.' Mysie felt really encouraged to be kind, and when, on setting
forth to church, everybody was crowding round trying to walk with Fly,
and Dolores was going along lonely and deserted, Mysie resigned her
chance of one side of the favourite Phyllis, and dropped back to give
her company to the solitary one. To her surprise and gratification,
Dolores took hold of her hand, and listened quite willingly to her
chatter about the schemes for the fortnight that Fly was to be left
with them. Presently Constance was seen going markedly by the other
gate of the churchyard, quite out of her usual way, and not even
looking towards them.
It was the last day of the old year, and, in the midst of the Christmas
joy, there were allusions to it in the services and hymns. Something
in the tune of 'Days and moments quickly flying,' touched some chord in
Dolores's spirit, and set her off crying. She would have done anything
to stop it, but there was no helping it, great round splashes came
down, and the more she was afraid of being noticed, the worse the
choking grew.
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