As for me, I have never
been ill that I remember since I was quite a little thing."
[Sidenote: We will Change all that!]
"My patience, child! And did Maria--did your mother allow you to run
about with two boys from morning till night?"
"It is such a quiet place, aunt, no one thought it strange. We knew all
the people, and they were always glad to see us--nearly always," added
truthful Edith, with a sudden remembrance of Mr. Smith's anger when he
found his cow in the potato field, and one or two other little matters
of a like nature.
"Well, I can only say that you have been most strangely brought up. But
we will change all that. You will now find every day full of regular
employments, and when I cannot walk out with you I shall send Stimson.
You must not expect to run wild any more, but give yourself to the
improvement of your mind, and to fitting yourself for the duties of
life. Now I have letters to write, and you may leave me till I send for
you again. For this one day you will have to be idle, I suppose."
Edith escaped into the garden, thankful that the interview was over, and
that, for the time at least, she was free.
The very next day she was introduced to Monsieur Delorme, who undertook
to come from Silchester three times a week to give her lessons in
French, and to Mr. Sumner, who was to do the same on the three alternate
days, for drawing. It seemed a terrible thing to Edith at first to have
to learn from strangers; but Monsieur Delorme was a charming old
gentleman, with all the politeness of his nation; and, as Edith proved a
very apt pupil, they soon got on together beautifully.
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