XVII

notsohandsomeashermother,noratalllikeher.Hercomplexionisdelicate,butneithersofairnorsobloomingasLadySusan’s,andshehasquitetheVernoncastofcountenance,theovalfaceandmilddarkeyes,andthereispeculiarsweetnessinherlookwhenshespeakseithertoheruncleorme,foraswebehavekindlytoherwehaveofcourseengagedhergratitude. Hermotherhasinsinuatedthathertemperisintractable,butIneversawafacelessindicativeofanyevildispositionthanhersandfromwhatIcanseeofthebehaviourofeachtotheother,theinvariableseverityofLadySusanandthesilentdejectionofFrederica,Iamledtobelieveasheretoforethattheformerhasnorealloveforherdaughter,andhasneverdoneherjusticeortreatedheraffectionately.Ihavenotbeenabletohaveanyconversationwithmyniecesheisshy,andIthinkIcanseethatsomepainsaretakentopreventherbeingmuchwithme.Nothingsatisfactorytranspiresastoherreasonforrunningaway.Herkind-hearteduncle,youmaybesure,wastoofearfulofdistressinghertoaskmanyquestionsastheytravelled.Iwishithadbeenpossibleformetofetchherinsteadofhim.IthinkIshouldhavediscoveredthetruthinthecourseofathirty-milejourney.Thesmallpianofortehasbeenremovedwithinthesefewdays,atLadySusan’srequest,intoherdressing-room,andFredericaspendsgreatpartofthedaythere,practisingasitiscalledbutIseldomhearanynoisewhenIpassthatwaywhatshedoeswithherselfthereIdonotknow.Thereareplentyofbooks,butitisnoteverygirlwhohasbeenrunningwildthefirstfifteenyearsofherlife,thatcanorwillread.Poorcreature!thepros