I will do the best I can for you. The
moment I get back to London, I'll set inquiries on foot and find out his
address, and when I have seen him I'll write. Good-bye.'
Then, resolving that it were better to leave the girl to herself, Julia
took up her key-basket and hurried away on household business. But in the
middle of her many occupations she would now and then stop short to think.
She had never heard of anything so cruel before. That poor girl--she must
go to her; she must not leave her alone any longer. But it would be well to
avoid the subject as much as possible. She must think of something to
distract her thoughts. The pony-chaise. It might be the last time they had
a carriage to go out in. But they could not go out driving on the day of
the funeral.
That evening, as they were going to bed, Emily said, lifting her sweet,
pathetic little face, looking all love and gentleness: 'Oh, to think of a
common, vulgar writer coming here, with a common, vulgar wife and a horrid
crowd of children. Oh, Julia, doesn't it seem impossible? And yet I suppose
it is true. I cannot bear to think of it. I can see the horrid children
tramping up and down the stairs, breaking the things we have known and
loved so long; and they will destroy all my flowers, and no one will
remember to feed the poor swans.
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