Embarrassment on his side, and
hostility on ours, may be said to have vanished under the influence
of Sir Guy de Warrenne's austere countenance. The youth seemed to
regard 'Mr. Winslow' in the light of a father, and to accept us as
kindly beings. He ceased to contort his limbs in our awful
presence, looked at me like as an ordinary person, and even ventured
on giving me an arm. He listened with unfeigned pleasure to our
music, perilled his neck on St. Vincent's rocks in search of plants,
and by and by took to hanging back with Emily, while Clarence walked
on with me, to talk to her out of his full heart about his mother
and sisters.
Three weeks elapsed before the Hoang-ho was ready to sail, and by
that time Lawrence knew that there were some who would rejoice in
his success, or grieve if things went ill with him. Clarence and I
had promised him long home letters, and impressed on him that we
should welcome his intelligence of himself. For verily he had made
his way into our hearts, as a thoroughly good-hearted, affectionate
being, yearning for something to cling to; intelligent and refined,
though his recent cultivation had been restricted, soundly
principled, and trained in religious feelings and habits, but so
utterly inexperienced that there was no guessing how it might be
with him when cast adrift, with no object save his own maintenance,
and no one to take an interest in him.
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