She was quiet enough when we met her in
the town; but I believe from what I have heard that she was a
high-spirited girl, and when we saw her, you know, she was on the eve
of parting with her son. As she was evidently wrapped up in him, that
would of course make her more quiet and silent than usual. I thought
she bore up remarkably well, and admired the effort she made to
prevent any display of her feeling marring the pleasant time we were
having in London."
"But how about Mabel, James? Had we better tell her about this? You
see, if she happens to meet Mrs. Conway she might betray her
secret--might run up and address her by her name."
"That is certainly a difficulty, my dear; and I don't quite know what
to do about it. What do you think yourself?"
"I think we had better postpone the matter, James, by sending Mabel
away for a bit. You know my sister has asked her several times to go
and stay with her on a visit at Bath. We have never cared to let her
go away from us; but I do think now that it will be a good thing for
me to write to Harriet, and tell her that if it will be convenient for
her to take Mabel, we shall be glad to send her to her for a few
months in order that she may take lessons in French and music. There
are, of course, plenty of good masters there. In that way we shall get
rid of the necessity for speaking to Mabel about it at all, and I
should think it likely that Mrs.
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