We were Sparlings--but my
father took the name of Mallory after my mother's death. It was _his_
mother's name, and there was an old Mallory uncle who left him a
property. I believe he was glad to change his name. He never spoke to me
of any Sparling relations. He was an only child, and I always suppose
his father must have been very unkind to him--and that they quarrelled.
At any rate, he quite dropped the name, and never would let me speak of
it. My mother had hardly any relations either--only one sister who
married and went to Barbadoes. So our old name was very soon forgotten.
And please"--she looked up appealingly--"now that I have told you, will
you forget it too? It always seemed to hurt papa to hear it, and I never
could bear to do--or say--anything that gave him pain."
She spoke with a sweet seriousness. Mrs. Colwood, who had been conscious
of a slight shock of puzzled recollection, gave an answer which
evidently pleased Diana, for the girl held out her hand and pressed that
of her companion; then they carried the box to its place, and were
leaving the room, when suddenly Diana, with a joyous exclamation,
pounced on a book which was lying on the floor, tumbled among a dozen
others recently unpacked.
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