Page:Adventures of Susan Hopley (Volume 1).pdf/87

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74
SUSAN HOPLEY.

that you might, perhaps, support yourself for the present by needlework, till time and your own conduct have somewhat abated the prejudice that I am afraid will be excited against you. At all events, you can consider this plan, and in order to preserve you from immediate distress, I have desired Jeremy to give you ten pounds, besides your wages; and as long as I hear you deserve it, you shall always find me willing to befriend you.'

"All the tears I had shed before were nothing to what this kindness drew from me. I could scarcely find voice enough to bid God bless her; and to pray that the day might come when she would be convinced that neither I nor my poor brother were ever guilty of ingratitude to her or her's; or were capable of doing any thing to render us unworthy of her goodness."

It was arranged that Susan should go back to Oakfield on the following morning, for the purpose of gathering together what belonged to her, that she might be away before Miss Wentworth returned. An elderly lady connected with the family had come down to stay with her; and Susan saw too plainly that the stranger did not regard her with such indulgent eyes as her kind