Collectively they were less
uncouth and bearish, not so noisy at their meals, nor so needlessly
rude to one another; and the habit of teasing Elizabeth whenever
there was nothing else to do was greatly lessened. Indeed Sam did
not plague her himself, nor let his brothers do so, unless she
tempted him by some very foolish whine or bit of finery; and in such
eases a little friendly merriment is a sound cure, very unlike the
hateful fault of tormenting for tormenting's sake.
Nor did Elizabeth give nearly so much cause for their rough laughter,
since Miss Fosbrook had given wholesome food to her tastes and
likings, partly satisfying the longing for variety, beauty, or
interest which had made her discontented and restless. Her head was
full of HER secret, and her pretty plans for her gift. Such lovely
drawings she saw in her mind's eye, such fairies, such delightful
ships, kittens, babies in the cradle! But when the pencil was in her
hand, the lines went all ways but the right; her fairy was a grimy
little object, whose second wing could never be put on; the ships
were saucers; the kitten might have been the pig; the baby was an owl
in an ivy-bush; and to look at the live baby in the cradle only
puzzled her the more.
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