Our Gentleman Boarder 



probably the death of his mother, whom he 

 loved so dearly, and whose delicate wire- 

 pulling could sway the sensitive nature 

 which paternal wrath might strive in vain 

 to move. Or else the great world from 

 which he had so long exiled himself proved 

 too immediately bewitching in the welcome 

 it accorded this charming and popular 

 prodigal. However it be, God help all 

 poor souls, say I, that have pathetic, albeit 

 worldly invalids for mothers, and bishops 

 for godfathers, backed as these will surely 

 be by the approval of society ; for, failing 

 the Divine succour, they are lost for a 

 certainly to all true and wholesome life! 



What suffering Mary endured we knew 

 not, for we never saw her in tears after his 

 departure, but she was restlessly anxious 

 for work, always work, and grew a little 

 irritable now and again if any one spoke to 

 her in a too compassionate tone. One 

 Sunday afternoon, Esther, all aglow and 

 happy from a walk with her sweetheart 

 came singing into the parlour where Mary 

 and I were sitting. Recognising the book 

 Mary was reading, a little volume of French 

 poetry from which Mr. Trevanion had 

 often read aloud to her, her look changed 

 as if she were stricken with pity and a kind 

 of shame at her own gladness. She went 

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