Barbara Hofland

The Clergyman's Widow and Her Young Family Barbara Hofland

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1866 Excerpt: ... XX. JHE return of Sarah was now anxiously expected by Maria, whose happiness was incomplete till partaken by her beloved sister. Mrs. Gardiner, too, felt anxious to consult with a child on whose judgment she had ever placed much dependence, on the propriety of accepting Mr. Wallingford's kind offer, or of remaining with her youngest daughter, and endeavouring to continue the business; in the former scheme she saw more ease, but the latter promised independence, which she valued still more; besides, if the business were abandoned, some situation must be found for Betsy, and this might probably place her at a considerable distance, a circumstance she by no means desired. To have been in the immediate neighbourhood of Maria, and have witnessed from day to day the exercise of her virtues and the increase of her happiness, would have been delightful; but this she considered impossible in their present circumstances, and she judged it right, so long at least as the younger branches of her family were unsettled, to preserve for them a home in their mother's house; and she was the more confirmed in this idea, as she observed that Maria never urged her residency at the parsonage without Elizabeth manifesting symptoms of regret and disappointment. She was indeed always partial to residing in a town; in that respect greatly differing from her eldest sister, whose sense of duty alone had rendered the town endurable, but, in all the years she had lived there, had never made it palatable. At length the long-wished-for visitant arrived, and Maria found her happiness complete. The truly affectionate Sarah embraced Mr. Wallingford with the warmth of a friend and the tenderness of a sister: she commended the steadiness of their long attachment, which she seemed to have disc...