And long after Dr. Gray was gone away, with his big book under his
arm, and Miss Gascoigne, in unutterable wrath and scorn, had turned
from her and began talking volubly to poor Aunt Maria at the fireside,
the feeling of content remained.
There was a long pause, during which the two children, Letitia and
Arthur, who had listened with open eyes and ears to what was passing
among their elders, now, forgetting it all, crept away for their usual
half-hour of after-breakfast play in the end window of the dining-room.
Christian also took her work, and began thinking of other things. She
neither wished to fight or be fought for, particularly in such a petty
domestic war. One of the many advantages among the many
disadvantages of a girlhood almost entirely removed from the society
of women was that it had saved her from women's smallnesses.
Besides, her nature itself was large, like her person--large, and
bounteous, and sweet; it refused to take in those petty motives which
disturb petty minds. Life to her was a grand romantic drama,--perhaps,
alas! a tragedy--but it never could be made into a genteel comedy, with
childish intrigues, Liliputian battles, tempests in teapots, or thunders
made upon kettle-drums.
Thus, concluding the temporary storm was over, and almost forgetting
it at the half-hour's end, she called cheerfully to the children to get
ready for a walk with her this sunshiny morning.
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