CHAPTER XXV. THE WEST WIND BLOWS.

nofherchild,cameoverhersuavely.Herfrostfellaway,herrigidityunbentshegrewsmilingandpliant.NotthatCarolinemadeanywordyprofessionoflove—thatwouldillhavesuitedMrs.Pryorshewouldhavereadthereintheproofofinsincerity—butshehungonherwitheasydependencesheconfidedinherwithfearlessreliance.Thesethingscontentedthemother'sheart. Shelikedtohearherdaughtersay,"Mamma,dothis""Please,mamma,fetchmethat""Mamma,readtome""Singalittle,mamma." Nobodyelse—notonelivingthing—hadeversoclaimedherservices,solookedforhelpatherhand.Otherpeoplewerealwaysmoreorlessreservedandstiffwithher,asshewasreservedandstiffwiththemotherpeoplebetrayedconsciousnessofandannoyanceatherweakpoints.Carolinenomoreshowedsuchwoundingsagacityorreproachfulsensitivenessnowthanshehaddonewhenasucklingofthreemonthsold. YetCarolinecouldfindfault.Blindtotheconstitutionaldefectsthatwereincurable,shehadhereyeswideopentotheacquiredhabitsthatweresusceptibleofremedy.Oncertainpointsshewouldquiteartlesslylectureherparentandthatparent,insteadofbeinghurt,feltasensationofpleasureindiscoveringthatthegirldaredlectureher,thatshewassomuchathomewithher. "Mamma,Iamdeterminedyoushallnotwearthatoldgownanymore.Itsfashionisnotbecomingitistoostraitintheskirt.Youshallputonyourblacksilkeveryafternoon.Inthatyoulookniceitsuitsyou.AndyoushallhaveablacksatindressforSundays—arealsatin,notasatinetoranyoftheshams.And,mamma,whenyougetthenewone,mindyoumustwearit." "Mydear,Ithoughtoftheblacksilkservingmeasabestdressformanyyearsyet,andIwishedtobuyyouseveralthings." "Nonsense,mamma.MyunclegivesmecashtogetwhatIwant.YouknowheisgenerousenoughandIhavesetmyheartonseeingyouinablacksatin.Getitsoon,andletitbemadebyadressmakerofmyrecommending.Letmechoosethepattern.Youalwayswanttodisguiseyourselflikeagrandmother.Youwouldpersuadeonethatyouareoldandugly.Notatall!Onthecontrary,whenwelldressedandcheerfulyouareverycomelyindeedyoursmileissopleasant,yourteetharesowhite,yourhairisstillsuchaprettylightcolour.Andthenyouspeaklikeayounglady,withsuchaclear,finetone,andyousingbetterthananyyoungladyIeverheard.Whydoyouwearsuchdressesandbonnets,mamma,suchasnobodyelseeverwears?" "Doesitannoyyou,Caroline?" "Verymuchitvexesmeeven.Peoplesayyouaremiserlyandyetyouarenot,foryougiveliberallytothepoorandtoreligioussocieties—thoughyourgiftsareconveyedsosecretlyandquietlythattheyareknowntofewexceptthereceivers.ButIwillbeyourlady's-maidmyself.WhenIgetalittlestrongerIwillsettowork,andyoumustbegood,mamma,anddoasIbidyou." AndCaroline,sittingnearhermother,rearrangedhermuslinhandkerchiefandresmoothedherhair. "Myownmamma,"thenshewenton,asifpleasingherselfwiththethoughtoftheirrelationship,"whobelongstome,andtowhomIbelong!Iamarichgirlno