I think I have never
realized it until now, and," she spoke in a lower tone, "dear Winnie,
should you ever receive other than the kindly treatment to which you
have always been accustomed, let it serve to increase your gratitude
that you have so many with whom you can trust your affections."
"Yes, Natalie, I will strive to do aright. I will try to do as I think
you would have done, but I fear I shall not have your strength. O, it is
so hard! if I only had a mother to love me, I could endure anything
else!" and her excitable nature getting the better of her, she burst
into tears. Natalie threw her arm about her neck, and, her own voice
tremulous with the pity which she felt for her, she tried to soothe her
spirits; "you shall have a mother! My mother shall be your mother! for
are you not to be my sister? and she will love you as did your own
gentle mother! but Mrs. Santon will yet become reconciled to you, for
when she finds what a good heart you have, she cannot but treat you with
kindness."
At this juncture the door opened, and Mrs. Santon brushed rudely in;
"welladay! is this your usual morning's occupation? Miss Grosvenor, I
think you should have more wisdom than to be petting a spoiled child! I
imagine that I shall have as much as I shall care to undertake, to undo
the mischief which is already too apparent.
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