She was a very well-informed and highly accomplished woman,
and had made her daughter the same, keeping her children up in a
somewhat exclusive style, away from all gossip or undesirable
intimacies, as recommended by Miss Edgeworth and other more
religious authorities, and which gave great offence in houses where
there were girls of the same age. No one, however, could look at
Ellen, and doubt of the success of the system, or of the young
girl's entire content and perfect affection for her mother, though
her father was her beloved playfellow--yet always with respect. She
never took liberties with him, nor called him Pap or any other
ridiculous name inconsistent with the fifth Commandment, though she
certainly was more entirely at ease with him than ever we had been
with our elderly father. When once Mrs. Fordyce found on what terms
we were to be, she accepted them frankly and fully. Already Emily
had been the first girl, not a relation, whose friendship she had
fostered with Ellen; and she had also become thoroughly affectionate
and at home with my mother, who suited her perfectly on the
conscientious, and likewise on the prudent and sensible, side of her
nature.
To me she was always kindness itself, so kind that I never felt, as
I did on so many occasions, that she was very pitiful and attentive
to the deformed youth; but that she really enjoyed my companionship,
and I could help her in her pursuits.
Pages:
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188