Besides, now, she had at times a new feeling--a wish to have her
husband all to herself. She ceased to need the "shadowy third"--the
invisible barricade against total dual solitude made by aunts or children.
She would have been glad sometimes to send them all away, and spend
a quiet evening hour, such as the last one, alone with Dr. Grey. It was
so pleasant to talk to him--so comfortable. The comfort of it lasted in
her heart all through her elaborate dressing, which was rather more
weariness to her than to most young women of her age.
Letitia assisted thereat--poor Titia who, being sent for, had crept down
to her step-mother's room, very humble and frightened, and received a
few tender, serious words--not many, for the white face was sodden
with crying, and there was a sullen look upon it which not all
Christian's gentleness could chase away. Phillis had discovered her
absence, and had punished her; not with whipping, that was forbidden,
but with some of the innumerable nursery tyrannies which Phillis called
government. And Titia evidently thought, with the suspiciousness of
all weak, cowed creatures, that Mrs. Grey must have had some hand in
it--that she had broken her promise, and betrayed her to this
punishment.
She stood aloof, poor little girl, tacitly doing as she was bidden, and
acquiescing in every thing, with her thin lips pressed into that hopeless
line, or now and then opening to give vent to sharp, unchildlike
speeches, so exceedingly like Aunt Henrietta's.
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