I did not defend myself, because
I respected her sorrows and the irritation that came from them;
also, because I knew the natural kindness of her nature well
enough to be assured that she would make amends to me for her
harshness the moment her mind was composed again. The result
showed that I was right. That same evening she sent for me and
begged me to forgive and forget the hasty words she had spoken in
the morning with a grace and sweetness that would have won the
heart of any man who listened to her.
Weeks passed after this, till it was more than a month since the
day of my master's departure, and no letter in his handwriting
came to Darrock Hall.
My mistress, taking this treatment more angrily than sorrowfully,
went to London to consult her nearest relations, who lived there.
On leaving home she stopped the carriage at the parsonage, and
went in (as I thought, rather defiantly) to say good-by to Mr.
Meeke. She had answered his letter, and received others from him,
and had answered them likewise. She had also, of course, seen him
every Sunday at church, and had always stopped to speak to him
after the service; but this was the first occasion on which she
had visited him at his house. As the carriage stopped, the little
parson came out, in great hurry and agitation, to meet her at the
garden gate.
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