For a long
time after her exciting interview with Mr. Scragg, she sat weeping
and trembling in her own room, with Edith by her side, who sought
earnestly to comfort and encourage her.
"Oh, Edith!" she sobbed, "to think that we should be humbled to
this!"
"Necessity has forced us into our present unhappy position, mother,"
replied Edith. "Let us meet its difficulties with as brave hearts as
possible."
"I shall never be able to treat that dreadful man with even common
civility," said Mrs. Darlington.
"We have accepted him as our guest, mother, and it will be our duty
to make all as pleasant and comfortable as possible. We will have to
bear much, I see--much beyond what I had anticipated."
Mrs. Darlington sighed deeply as she replied--
"Yes, yes, Edith. Ah, the thought makes me miserable!"
"No more of that sweet drawing together in our own dear home
circle," remarked Edith, sadly.
"Henceforth we are to bear the constant presence and intrusion of
strangers, with whom we have few or no sentiments in common. We open
our house and take in the ignorant, the selfish, the vulgar, and
feed them for a certain price! Does not the thought bring a feeling
of painful humiliation? What can pay for all this? Ah me! The
anticipation had in it not a glimpse of what we have found in our
brief experience.
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