Eustace's favourite study, meanwhile,
was "Burke's Peerage," and his questions nearly drove me wild by
their absurdity; and Dora rolled on the floor with my Spitz dog, for
she loathed the doll I gave her, and made me more afraid of her than
of either of the others.
Harold was all might and gentleness; Eustace viewed me as a glass of
fashion and directory of English life and manners; but I saw they
both looked to me not only to make their home, but to tame their
little wild cat of a child; and that was enough to make her hate and
distrust me. Moreover, she had a gleam of jealousy not far from
fierce in her wild blue eyes if she saw Harold turn affectionately to
me, and she always protested sullenly against the "next week," when I
was to begin her education.
She could only read words of four letters, and could not, or would
not, work a stitch. Harold had done all her mending. On the second
day I passed by the open door of his room, and saw him at work on a
great rectangular rent in her frock. I could not help stopping to
suggest that Colman or I might save him that trouble, whereupon Dora
slammed the door in my face.
Harold opened it again at once, saying, "You ought to beg Aunt Lucy's
pardon;" and when no apology could be extracted from her, and with
thanks he handed over the little dress to me, she gave a shriek of
anger (she hardly ever shed tears) and snatched it from me again.
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