CHAPTER XIX. THE LETTER

Myfather’smortalremainshadbeenconsignedtothetombandwe,withsadfacesandsombregarments,satlingeringoverthefrugalbreakfast-table,revolvingplansforourfuturelife.Mymother’sstrongmindhadnotgivenwaybeneatheventhisaffliction:herspirit,thoughcrushed,wasnotbroken.Mary’swishwasthatIshouldgobacktoHortonLodge,andthatourmothershouldcomeandlivewithherandMr.Richardsonatthevicarage:sheaffirmedthathewisheditnolessthanherself,andthatsuchanarrangementcouldnotfailtobenefitallpartiesformymother’ssocietyandexperiencewouldbeofinestimablevaluetothem,andtheywoulddoalltheycouldtomakeherhappy.Butnoargumentsorentreatiescouldprevail:mymotherwasdeterminednottogo.Notthatshequestioned,foramoment,thekindwishesandintentionsofherdaughterbutsheaffirmedthatsolongasGodsparedherhealthandstrength,shewouldmakeuseofthemtoearnherownlivelihood,andbechargeabletonoonewhetherherdependencewouldbefeltasaburdenornot.Ifshecouldaffordtoresideasalodgerin——vicarage,shewouldchoosethathousebeforeallothersastheplaceofherabodebutnotbeingsocircumstanced,shewouldnevercomeunderitsroof,exceptasanoccasionalvisitor:unlesssicknessorcalamityshouldrenderherassistancereallyneedful,oruntilageorinfirmitymadeherincapableofmaintainingherself. “No,Mary,”saidshe,“ifRichardsonandyouhaveanythingtospare,youmustlayitasideforyourfamilyandAgnesandImustgatherhoneyforourselves.Thankstomyhavinghaddaughterstoeducate,Ihavenotforgottenmyaccomplishments.Godwilling,Iwillcheckthisvainrepining,”shesaid,whilethetearscoursedoneanotherdownhercheeksinspiteofhereffortsbutshewipedthemaway,andresolutelyshakingbackherhead,continued,“Iwillexertmyself,andlookoutforasmallhouse,commodiouslysituatedinsomepopulousbuthealthydistrict,wherewewilltakeafewyoungladiestoboardandeducate—ifwecangetthem—andasmanydaypupilsaswillcome,oraswecanma