'
To which she only answered, 'We shall see knowing that in his present
state of mind he would only set down the hopeful tokens that she
perceived either to hypocrisy on the girl's side, or weakness on hers.
Dolores had indeed gone with the others rather because she could not
bear remaining to see her uncle's altered looks than because she
expected much pleasure. And she had the satisfaction of sitting by
Mysie, and holding her hand, which had become a very great comfort in
her forlorn state--so great that she forebore to hurt her cousin's
feelings by discoursing of the dissolving views she had seen at a
London party. Also she exacted a promise that this station should
always be hers.
Mysie, on her side, was in some of the difficulties of a popular
character, for Fly felt herself deserted, and attacked her on the first
opportunity.
'What does make you always go after Dolly instead of me, Mysie? Do you
like her so much better?'
'Oh no! but you have them all, and she has nobody.'
'Well, but she has been so horridly naughty, hasn't she?'
'I don't think she meant it.'
'One never does. At least, I'm sure I don't--and mamma always says it
is nonsense to say that.'
'I'm not sure whether it is always,' said Mysie, thoughtfully, 'for
sometimes one does worse than one knows. Once I made a mouse-trap of a
beautiful large sheet of bluey paper, and it turned out to be an order
come down to papa. Mamma and Alethea gummed it up as well as ever they
could again, but all the officers had to know what had happened to it.
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