"
Isobel did not hesitate, as her faith in her uncle was unbounded.
Next to her meetings with her brother, his letters had been her
greatest pleasures. He had always taken her part; it was he who,
at her request, had Robert placed at school, and he had kept her
at Miss Virtue's in spite of her mother's complaints. At home she
had never felt comfortable; it had always seemed to her that she
was in the way; her mother disapproved of her; while from Helena
she had never had a sisterly word. To go out to India to see the
wonders she had read of, and to be her uncle's companion, seemed
a perfectly delightful prospect. Her answer to her uncle was sent
off the day after she received his letter, and that day month she
stepped on board an Indiaman in the London Docks.
The intervening time had not been a pleasant one. Mrs. Hannay had
heard from the Major of his wishes and intentions regarding Isobel,
and she was greatly displeased thereat.
"Why should he have chosen you instead of Helena?" she said angrily
to Isobel, on the first day of her arrival home.
"I suppose because he thought I should suit him better, mamma. I
really don't see why you should be upset about it; I don't suppose
Helena would have liked to go, and I am sure you would not have
liked to have had me with you instead of her. I should have thought
you would have been pleased I was off your hands altogether. It
doesn't seem to me that you have ever been really glad to have me
about you.
Pages:
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75