So it
was with Sanchia. She was fully conscious of Struan's preposterous state,
strictly the elder sister, never the patroness, for were they not bond-
slaves both? She patronised nobody at Wanless, yet, with a steady eye for
distances, kept a perfect length, varying with each oncomer. With Mr.
Menzies, lord of the gardens, so far on she came; with Frodsham, master of
horse and hound, so far; with the engineer so far; with Minnie nearer;
nearest of all with Mrs. Benson: her attitude to the stout woman was that
of favourite pupil to a family governess of immemorial service. She could
wheedle Mrs. Benson, and often did. The elder sister attitude was kept for
young Glyde; she admonished, scolded, preached to him high doctrine of
duty and honour; there was something benignant, a sort of pitying care
shed from above. To him she may have been like Cynthia, stooping to the
dreamer on Latmos. Whether she knew that, she must have known a good deal.
She knew, for instance, that he kept vigil; for she had met him at night,
as you have been told. She knew where to find him. Nothing had ever passed
between them, of course, of her relations with the Master. I don't think
that she was aware of his sentry-go under the windows--first under
Ingram's, then under hers.
Pages:
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170