My mother, though vigorous and practical, had shown symptoms of
gout, and if she were ill, I could hardly have done much for her;
and on the other hand, though my health and powers of moving were at
their best, and I was capable of the headwork of the estate, I was
scarcely fit to be the representative member of the family.
Moreover, these good creatures took into consideration that poor
mamma and I would have been rather at a loss as each other's sole
companions. I could sort shades for her Berlin work, and even solve
problems of intricate knitting, and I could read to her in the
evening; but I could not trot after her to her garden, poultry-yard,
and cottages; nor could she enter into the pursuits that Emily had
shared with me for so many years. Our connecting link, that dear
sister, knew how sorely she would be missed, and she told Clarence
that she felt fully competent to undertake, conjointly with us, all
that would be incumbent on Chantry House, if he really wanted to be
absent. For the rest, Clarence believed my mother would be the
happier for being left regent over the estate; and his scheme broke
upon me that very forenoon, when my mother and he were settling some
executor's business together, and he told her that Mr. Castleford
wished him to go out to Hong Kong, which was then newly ceded to the
English, and where the firm wished to establish a house of business.
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