mildest
Posted at 07:13 on 2009-Dec-2
In the meantime, there was an uncomfortable scene in progress between Dorothy and her aunt. Brooke Burgess, as desired, had left the house before eleven, having taken upon himself, when consulted, torunescape power leveling say in the mildest terms, that he thought that, in general, young women should not be asked to marry if they did not like to, which opinion had been so galling to Miss Stanbury that she had declared that he had so scolded her, that she did not know whether she was standing on her head or her heels. As soon as Mr Gibson left her, she sat herself down, and fairly cried. She had ardently desired this thing, and had runescape goldallowed herself to think of her desire as of one that would certainly be accomplished. Dorothy would have been so happy as the wife of a clergyman! Miss Stanbury's standard for men and women was not high. She did not expect others to be as self sacrificing, as charitable, and as good as herself. It was not that she gave to herself credit for such virtues; but she thought of herself as one who, from the peculiar circumstances of life, was bound to do much for others. There was no end to her doing good for others if only the others would allow themselves to be governed by her. She did not think that Mr Gibson was a great divine; but she perceived that he was a clergyman, living decently--of that secret pipe Miss Stanbury knew nothing--doing his duty punctually, and, as she thought, very much in want of a wife. runescape gold farmingThen there was her niece, Dolly soft, pretty, feminine, without a shilling, and much in want of some one to comfort and take care of her. What could be better than such a marriage! And the overthrow to the girls with the big chignons would be so complete! She had set her mind upon it, and now Dorothy said that it couldn't, and it wouldn't, and it shouldn't be accomplished! She was to be thrown over by this chit of a girl, as she had been thrown over by the girl's brother! And, when she complained, the girl simply offered to go away!
At about twelve Dorothy came creeping down into the room in which her aunt was sitting, and pretended to occupy herself on some piece of work. For a considerable time, for three minutes perhaps, Miss Stanbury did not speak. She resolved that she would not speak to her niece again at least, not for that day. She would let the ungrateful girl know how miserable she had been made. But at the close of the three minutes her patience was exhausted. 'What are you doing there?' she said.
'I am quilting your cap, Aunt Stanbury.'
'Put it down. You shan't do anything for me. I won't have you touch my things any more. I don't like pretended service.'
'It is not pretended, Aunt Stanbury.'
'I say it is pretended. Why did you pretend to me that you would have him when you had made up your mind against it all the time?'
'But I hadn't made up my mind.'
'If you had so much doubt about it, you might have done what I wanted you.'
'I couldn't, Aunt Stanbury.'
'You mean you wouldn't. I wonder what it is you do expect.'
'I don't expect anything, Aunt Stanbury.'
'No; and I don't expect anything. What an old fool I am ever to look for any comfort. Why should I think that anybody would care for me?'
'Indeed, I do care for you.'
'In what sort of way do you show it? You're just like your brother Hugh. I've disgraced myself to that man promising what I could not perform. I declare it makes me sick when I think of it. Why did you not tell me at once?' Dorothy said nothing further, but sat with the cap on her lap. She did not dare to resume her needle, and she did not like to put the cap aside, as by doing so it would seem as though she had accepted her aunt's prohibition against her work. For half an hour she sat thus, during which time Miss Stanbury dropped asleep. She woke with a start, and began to scold again. 'What's the good of sitting there all the day, with your hands before you, doing nothing?'
But Dorothy had been very busy. She had been making up her mind, and had determined to communicate her resolution to her aunt. 'Dear aunt,' she said, 'I've been thinking of something.'
'It's too late now,' said Miss Stanbury.
'I see I've made you very unhappy.'
'Of course you have.'
'And you think that I'm ungrateful. I'm not ungrateful, and I don't think that Hugh is.'
'Never mind Hugh.'
'Only because it seems so hard that you should take so much trouble about us, and that then there should be so much vexation.'
'I find it very hard.'
'So I think that I'd better go back to Nuncombe.'
'That's what you call gratitude.'
'I don't like to stay here and make you unhappy. I can't think that I ought to have done what you asked me, because I did not feel at all in that way about Mr Gibson. But as I have only disappointed you, it will be better that I should go home. I have been very happy here very.'
'Bother!' exclaimed Miss Stanbury.
'I have, and I do love you, though you won't believe it. But I am sure I oughtn't to remain to make you unhappy. I shall never forget all that you have done for me; and though you call me ungrateful, I am not. But I know that I ought not to stay, as I cannot do what you wish. So, if you please, I will go back to Nuncombe.'
'You'll not do anything of the kind,' said Miss Stanbury.
'But it will be better.'
'Yes, of course; no doubt. I suppose you're tired of us all.'
'It is not that I'm tired, Aunt Stanbury. It isn't that at all.' Dorothy had now become red up to the roots of her hair, and her eyes were full of tears. 'But I cannot stay where people think that I am ungrateful. If you please, Aunt Stanbury, I will go.' Then, of course, there was a compromise. Dorothy did at last consent to remain in the Close, but only on condition that she should be forgiven for her sin in reference to Mr Gibson, and be permitted to go on with her aunt's cap.
