Mrs. Campbell declared the same, and that she loved her equally with her own children; "but yet," said she, "Mrs. Meridith will not take her away from Downash, she always intends living here, and seems attached to the place, and we know Anna can learn no evil of her. Will it be acting right, therefore, to deprive Mrs. Meridith of the amusement Anna will be, or Anna of the advantages Mrs. Meridith's fortune can obtain for her? We see riches has not made that lady proud or dissipated, and with such an example, may we not hope Anna will escape the effects which wealth and idleness too commonly produce?"
"If her father should ever inquire for her," said Mr. Campbell, "he cannot be displeased at finding her so situated; though I should fear, was he to know it, it would tempt him to seek her out, in hopes of being benefited by Mr. Meridith's kindness to her."
Mrs. Campbell observed, that his long absence from the place, and the report of his going abroad, made it very unlikely he should yet be alive, and as he was perfectly indifferent to her fate before he knew that they should take the charge of her, it was very unlikely he should think of her now. The fear of offending Mrs. Meridith went a great way in gaining their consent, and it was agreed the offer should be accepted, but not before old Molly, who had lived in the house when Anna's mother was born, had been consulted, and prevailed on to give a willing affirmative to the arrangement.
"She will never be happier in any great house than here;" said she, "and as for money, what's the use of having more than is necessary? Sure, sure, a farm-house is the happiest place in the world; always busy, and something to look forward to from every employment which will be useful to ourselves and others. I should never wish to see our little Anna any other than a farmer's wife, such as her dear grandmother was, not but what Mrs. Meridith is a very good lady: a very good lady indeed: but riches won't make people happy, that's plain to be seen in her. How dull she looks sometimes!"
"That proceeds from the many misfortunes she has met with, dear Molly," said Mr. Campbell, "and a farm-house is not exempt from the loss of family and friends, though our's, thanks be to Providence, has been so highly favoured."
"If then we are liable to lose any of our children by death," said Molly, "there seems the less occasion to give one away; but you knows best; I would not be the child's hindrance; yet I should not like her to be taken a great way off, as poor Mrs. Meridith was herself."
"There is no fear of that, Molly," resumed her master, "for Mrs. Meridith seems inclined to prefer Rosewood as her home to any other place."
"Heaven be praised for that," returned Molly, "for sure she has done a power of good since she lived there, and if little Anna is to go no farther, I can see her as often as I like, for Mrs. Meridith has asked me to come often and often; and told me never to take the children out for a walk without calling there; and latterly, some how or other, I never have, for let me go which way I would, the boys always contrived to come home round by Rosewood, and little Anna would peep and pry about through the paling, and the hedges, to see if she could find Mrs. Meridith, or the black man or woman; and I used to think to scold her for it, but some how or other I always forgot it."
Molly had now began talking, and it was some time before she stopped; for though there were but few subjects she could talk upon, she always found enough to say upon them; and she did not leave off till she was perfectly satisfied Anna should be Mrs. Meridith's child, so that while she lived she could see her as often as she wished.