“Surely, as you like best,” said Lady Cecilia; “pray consider yourself, as you know you are, at home here.”
“No, I never shall be at home here,” said Esther.
“Oh! don’t say that, let me hope—let me hope—” and she withdrew. Helen just stayed to unlock a gate for Miss Clarendon’s ‘rambles further,’ and, as she unlocked it, she heard Miss Clarendon sigh as she repeated the word, “Hope! I do not like to hope, hope has so often deceived me.”
“You will never be deceived in Cecilia,” said Helen.
“Take care—stay till you try.”
“I have tried,” said Helen, “I know her.”
“How long?”
“From childhood!”
“You’re scarcely out of childhood yet.”
“I am not so very young. I have had trials of my friends—of Cecilia particularly, much more than you could ever have had.”