During their talk the morning following that illuminating incident,
Peg learned more of Ethel's real nature than she had done in all of
the four weeks she had seen and listened to her daily.
She had opened her heart to Peg, and the two girls had mingled
confidences. If they had only begun that way, what a different month
it might have been for both! Peg resolved to watch Ethel's career
from afar: to write to her constantly: and to keep fresh and green
the memory of their mutual regard.
At times there would flash through Peg's mind--what would her future
in America be--with her father? Would he be disappointed? He so much
wanted her to be provided for that the outcome of her visit abroad
would be, of a certainty, in the nature of a severe shock to him.
What would be the outcome? How would he receive her? And what had
all the days to come in store for her with memory searching back to
the days that were? She had a longing now for education: to know the
essential things that made daily intercourse possible between people
of culture. She had been accustomed to look on it as affectation.
Now she realised that it was as natural to those who had acquired
the masonry of gentle people as her soft brogue and odd, blunt,
outspoken ways were to her.
Pages:
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400