That Mrs. Fyne found means to comfort the child I doubt very
much. She had not the genius for the task of undoing that which the hate
of an infuriated woman had planned so well.
You will tell me perhaps that children's impressions are not durable.
That's true enough. But here, child is only a manner of speaking. The
girl was within a few days of her sixteenth birthday; she was old enough
to be matured by the shock. The very effort she had to make in conveying
the impression to Mrs. Fyne, in remembering the details, in finding
adequate words--or any words at all--was in itself a terribly
enlightening, an ageing process. She had talked a long time,
uninterrupted by Mrs. Fyne, childlike enough in her wonder and pain,
pausing now and then to interject the pitiful query: "It was cruel of
her. Wasn't it cruel, Mrs. Fyne?"
For Charley she found excuses. He at any rate had not said anything,
while he had looked very gloomy and miserable. He couldn't have taken
part against his aunt--could he? But after all he did, when she called
upon him, take "that cruel woman away.
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