When I am there he will sit
for hours on my knee, and lay his head on my shoulder, and stroke
my face. It makes me feel as if my heart would break."
"Well, my dear," Miss Virtue said, somewhat puzzled, "it is sad, if
it is as you say, but that does not excuse your being disrespectful
to your mother. It is not for you to judge her."
"But cannot something be done for Robert, Miss Virtue? Surely they
must do something for children like him."
"There are people, my dear, who take a few afflicted children and
give them special training. Children of that kind have sometimes
shown a great deal of unusual talent, and, if so, it is cultivated,
and they are put in a way of earning a livelihood."
"Are there?" Isobel exclaimed, with eager eyes. "Then I know what
I will do, Miss Virtue; I will write off at once to Uncle Tom--
he is our guardian. I know if I were to speak to mamma about Robert
going to school it would be of no use; but if uncle writes I dare
say it would be done. I am sure she and Helena would be glad enough.
I don't suppose she ever thought of it. It would be a relief to
them to get him out of their sight."
Miss Virtue shook her head. "You must not talk so, Isobel. It is
not right or dutiful, and you are a great deal too young to judge
your elders, even if they were not related to you; and, pray, if
you write to your uncle do not write in that spirit--it would
shock him greatly, and he would form a very bad opinion of you.
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