What followed upon that was not
communicated to her protectress, nor do I care to pry. I imagine that she
had always said her prayers, but that now she was answering them.
That is, when one thinks upon it, the first office of prayer.
VI
Lady Maria Wenman grew to be extremely fond of Sanchia, really as fond of
her as she was capable of becoming of anybody. She had been good to travel
with, and was good to live with. She found her so reasonable, she said.
One could discuss anything without shocking her, or without fear of being
made uncomfortable by seeing her discomfort. Lady Maria, in fact, being
entirely without prejudice, experienced the little luxury of being able to
express herself without trampling.
On her side also, Sanchia sincerely liked her old protectress, and found
Charles Street agree with her. There was a primordial air about it, which
made habits seem like laws of Nature; an absence of fuss which soothed her
nerves, and did much better than slay her monsters for her, when it
exposed them for no monsters at all, but simple, everyday, rather tiresome
concomitants of our makeshift existence.
"You will, of course, marry Nevile Ingram,"--thus Lady Maria disposed of
the most dread of all monsters--"because it is, on the whole, more
agreeable to avoid scandal, and because it is certainly more decent to pay
one's bills.
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