The errors, regarded as sin, weighed on Lady
Merrifield's mind, but she judged it wiser not to press that thought on
an unprepared spirit, trusting that just as Dolores had wakened to the
sense of the human love that surrounded her, hitherto disbelieved and
disregarded, so she might yet awake to the feeling of the Divine love
and her offence against it.
The afternoon was tolerably free, for the gentlemen, including the
elder boys, walked to evensong at a neighbouring church noted for its
musical services, and Lady Merrifield, as she said, 'lashed herself up'
to go with Gillian, carry back the remnant of the unhappy 'Waif,' and
'have it out' with Constance, who would, she feared, never otherwise
understand the measure of her own delinquency, and from whom, perhaps,
evidence might be extracted which would palliate the poor child's
offence in the eyes of Colonel Mohun. Both the Hacket sisters looked
terribly frightened when she appeared, and the elder one made an excuse
for getting her outside the door to beseech her to be careful, dear
Constance was so nervous and so dreadfully upset by all she had
undergone. Lady Merrifield was not the least nervous of the two, and
she felt additionally displeased with Constance for not having said one
word of commiseration when her sister had inquired for Dolores. On
returning to the drawing-room, Lady Merrifield found the young lady
standing by the window, playing with the blind, and looking as if she
wanted to make her escape.
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