"She might have been a child of many prayers," said the poor mother.
"Ah! but that she can still be," said the old lady. "She will turn
back again, my dear. Never fear. I don't think I could die easy if
I did not believe she would!"
Jock brought back word that the lawyer had been entirely unaware of
the Hermanns' departure, and thought it looked bad. He had seen them
both, and his report was less brilliant than Nita's. Indeed Jock
kept back the details, for Mr. Wakefield had described Mrs. Hermann
as much altered, thin, haggard, shabby, and anxious, and though her
husband fawned upon her demonstratively before spectators, something
in her eyes betokened a certain fear of him. He had also heard that
Elvira was still making visits. There was a romance about her,
which, in addition to her beauty and future wealth, made people think
her a desirable guest. She was always more agreeable with strangers
than in her own family; and as to the needful funds, she had her
ample allowance; and no doubt her expectations secured her unlimited
credit. Her conduct was another pang, but it was lost in the keener
pain Janet had given.
As his mother could not bear to face any one else, Jock thought the
sooner he could get her home the better, and all they did was to buy
some of Armine's favourite biscuits, and likewise to stop at
Rivington's, where she chose the two smallest and neatest Greek
Testaments she could find.
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