All this, however, was altered. Petronella had drawn Armine aside
one way, and now that he was come back again, he did not find the
same perfectly sympathetic sister as before. Bobus had not been
without effect upon her, as the impersonation of common sense and
antagonism to Miss Parsons. It had not shown at the time, for his
domineering tone and his sneers always impelled her to stand up for
her darling; but when he was "poor Bobus" gone into exile and bereft
of his love, certain poisonous germs attached to his words began to
grow. There was no absolute doubt-—far from it-—but there was an
impatience of the weariness and solemnity of religion.
To enjoy Church privileges to the full, and do good works under
Church direction, had in their wandering life been a dream of modern
chivalry which she had shared with Sydney, much as they had talked of
going on a crusade. And now she found these privileges very tedious,
the good works onerous, and she viewed them somewhat as she might
have regarded Coeur de Lion's camp had she been set down in it.
Armine would have gone on hearing nothing but "Remember the Holy
Sepulchre," but Barbara would soon have seen every folly and failure
that spoiled the glory of the army-—even though she might not
question its destination-—and would have been unfeignedly weary of
its discipline.
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