"Not so much, Mary, as I might have, perhaps, if she said less about her sorrows."
"And her generous intentions in our favour, mamma," ... said the youngest, "perhaps you have no faith in them either."
"Not so much, Lucy," said the lady, repeating her words, "as I might have, perhaps, if she said less about it."
"I hope you are deceived, all of you," said Elizabeth, the second girl, very solemnly; "and I must say I think it is very shocking to put such dreadful constructions upon the conduct of a person you know so little about."
"I am sure I put no constructions," replied Mary, "I only ventured to guess at mamma's."
"And I beg to declare that my sins against this generous new relative have gone no farther," said Lucy.
"Well, well, we shall see, girls," said the lively mother. "Let us all start fair for the loaves and fishes; ... and now, Elizabeth, ring the bell, let the breakfast be removed, and you will see that I shall reply in a very sober and proper way to this pathetic communication."
The letter Mrs. Peters composed and read to her daughters, was approved even by the sober-minded and conscientious Elizabeth; it contained an obliging offer of accommodation at their house in Rodney Place, till Mrs. Barnaby should have found lodgings to suit her, and ended with kind regards from all the family, and "I beg you to believe me your affectionate sister, Margaret Peters."
So far, everything prospered with our widow. This invitation was exactly what she wished, and having answered, accepted, and fixed the day and probable hour at which it was to begin, Mrs. Barnaby once more enjoyed the delight of preparing herself for a journey that was to lead her another step towards the goal she had in view.