Fordyce knew her to be delicate, and feared late
hours for her. The vexation her cousins manifested made her feel
the more bound to give them what time she could, at hours when
Griffith was not at liberty. She did not like them to be hurt, and
jealous of us, or to feel forsaken, and she tried to put her
affection for us on a different footing by averring that 'it was not
the same kind of thing--Emily was her sister.'
One day she had gone to luncheon with the Lesters in Cavendish
Square, and was to be called for in the carriage by me, on the way
to take up the other two ladies, who were shopping in Regent Street.
Ellen came running downstairs, with her cheeks in a glow under the
pink satin lining of her pretty bonnet, and her eyes sparkling with
indignation, which could not but break forth.
'I don't know how I shall ever go there again!' she exclaimed; 'they
have no right to say such things!' Then she explained. Mary and
Louisa had been saying horrid things about Griffith--her Griff! It
was always their way. Think how Horace had made her treat Clarence!
It was their way and habit to tease, and call it fun, and she had
never minded it before; but this was too bad. Would not I put it in
her power to give a flat contradiction, such as would make them
ashamed of themselves?
Contradict what?
Then it appeared that the Misses Lester had laughed at her, who was
so very particular and scrupulous, for having taken up with a
regular young man about town.
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