It makes them like that."
"It's a pity they can't get out of it," said Mrs. Travers.
Also, sixteen is an awkward age for a boy. Virtues, still in the
chrysalis state, are struggling to escape from their parent vices.
Pride, an excellent quality making for courage and patience, still
appears in the swathings of arrogance. Sincerity still expresses
itself in the language of rudeness. Kindness itself is apt to be
mistaken for amazing impertinence and love of interference.
It was kindness--a genuine desire to be useful, that prompted him to
point out to Ann her undoubted faults and failings, nerved him to
the task of bringing her up in the way she should go. Mrs. Travers
had long since washed her hands of the entire business. Uncle Ab,
as Matthew also called him, had proved himself a weakling.
Providence, so it seemed to Matthew, must have been waiting
impatiently for his advent. Ann at first thought it was some new
school of humour. When she found he was serious she set herself to
cure him. But she never did. He was too conscientious for that.
The instincts of the guide, philosopher, and friend to humanity in
general were already too strong in him. There were times when Abner
almost wished that Matthew Pole senior had lived a little longer.
But he did not lose hope.
Pages:
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203