human
I am not so much afraid for him, said Mrs Herbert,
gpt
Perhaps, he replied,
human
Poor Charlotte! said Mrs Herbert;
gpt
Have you seen Miss Morton lately?
human
I am afraid the change this will bring upon her will be greater than upon any one, as far as outward circumstances go.
gpt
Amy has been keeping watch upon her all day, and told me just now she thought that she was trying to sleep again, so I did not like to disturb her; and indeed I have only seen her twice since the morning, and then only for a few minutes, for I saw she required rest and solitude more than anything else.
human
She will scarcely remain here now,
gpt
Her chief employment and interest will be gone. And I suppose she would not be happy even if Mrs Harrington wished her to continue.
human
Charlotte will not wish it. She told me a short time since that her principal reason for desiring to keep Miss Morton was on account of little Rose, as Dora and Margaret did not like having her in the house, and she felt herself that the position was an awkward one. She did not choose her to be a companion; and she was not old enough to have any authority.
gpt
And what will become of her?
human
She will go into another situation as soon as possible; but the difficulty will be to find one that will suit her.
gpt
It will be a miserable life for her, I fear, he continued.
human
Some people seem born to struggle against the hardships of the world; but she is so very gentle that it appeals as if the smallest unkindness would completely crush her.
gpt
You do not know her, replied Mrs Herbert.
human
She can never be crushed by anything, not even by the grief which she is now enduring. Her principles are far too high.
gpt
Amy is very fond of Miss Morton, I think.
human
Yes; and the acquaintance has been of infinite service already. Amy is very quick at discerning character, and notices everything; and I can constantly see how the example of Miss Morton's patience and goodness has strengthened her own right feelings. I quite dread to think of what she will suffer when they are compelled to part.
gpt
Are you quite sure that parting is necessary?
human
Only as you are quite sure yourself. Miss Morton will not wish to stay, and my sister will not wish to keep her; and of course in such a case she must go.
gpt
Supposing--remember I am not expressing any wish upon the subject--but supposing it were suggested to Miss Morton to return with us to the cottage, and take your place as Amy's governess, would it meet your wishes; and do you think she would like it?
human
Would you really agree to such a plan? exclaimed Mrs Herbert.
gpt
It crossed my own mind once, but I thought it would not please you; and I could not bear to propose anything which it might give you pain to refuse.
human
Why should you imagine it would not please me?
gpt
Because it might interfere with your notions of domestic comfort to have a stranger in the house. And then you cannot feel for Miss Morton as I do.
human
But I can feel for her because you do. And with regard to my notions of domestic comfort, I should consider them of very minor importance, even if Miss Morton were not a person to excite such deep interest, when compared with the advantage her assistance would be to you in Amy's education, and the pleasure it would be to Amy to have such a companion. The first thing that gave me the idea, was the knowledge that you required more relaxation than you were likely to give yourself, if you considered that Amy's instruction depended entirely on your own energy.
gpt
I do not think we should repent taking such a step, said Mrs Herbert.
human
My own feeling for Emily is so sincere that I would make great sacrifices for her comfort if they did not involve yours.
gpt
I do not see why they should; though, even if they did, I hope I should not hesitate. By arranging for Miss Morton to return with us, we may be the means of giving her peace, and even happiness, for several years at least. But in fact I do not feel that it would be any sacrifice now that I know you would like it.
human
It would be a very great relief to my mind, said Mrs Herbert.
gpt
If you had seen her look of misery last night, you would have felt that it was impossible to rest satisfied till something had been done for her.
human
It will not do to decide upon it hastily, though, observed Colonel Herbert.
gpt
Situated as we are, having known her family, and having a personal interest in herself, whatever we decided on doing we should be obliged to continue,--I mean that we could not allow her to leave us merely on the ground of its not suiting our convenience that she should remain. It would be cruel, after giving her the idea that we are really her friends, to throw her again upon the mercy of strangers.
human
Still, said Mrs Herbert,
gpt
I am not really inclined to hesitate; my feelings are decidedly in favour of the plan; though for that very reason I should wish to consider all the possible objections in their strongest light.
human
There will be no occasion to decide at once, said Colonel Herbert.
gpt
Miss Morton will scarcely be in a state to think of anything for the next few days; and by that time we shall be better able to judge whether there is any serious obstacle in the way--anything that involves a sacrifice of what is right, which, in fact, is all that is really to be considered.
human
People would laugh, said Mrs Herbert,
gpt
Very likely they would; but I have seen enough of life to have discovered that a hasty kindness is often quite as injurious as a hasty unkindness. Mere feeling, however good, should never be allowed entirely to guide our actions, especially where the happiness of another person is so materially concerned as in the present case.
human
I do not well see how it could lead us wrong now,
gpt
It might induce us to decide without considering the sacrifices which will be required of us; and then when the time came for making them we should be vexed and disappointed, and should probably show it, and so destroy poor Miss Morton's comfort, or perhaps force her to leave us, whereas, if we well weigh them beforehand, we shall be prepared, and they will come as a matter of course.
human
I believe you are right; and yet my first impulse, when you mentioned the subject, was to go at once and name it to Emily; of course, I felt in a moment it would be very absurd, if not really wrong; but it is so hard to know that suffering exists, and not make some effort to relieve it.
gpt
Yes, replied Colonel Herbert;
human
It is but a sad welcome for you, said Mrs Herbert, smiling through her tears as she looked in her husband's face;
gpt
We might have been too happy without it, he replied.
human
I half dreaded that something might happen when I went with Amy to the cottage. To see you looking as you did on that morning, so much more like your former self than I could possibly have expected, and to discover in every word she uttered how entirely my fondest wishes for her had been realised, was greater happiness than it is usually permitted us to enjoy for any length of time.
gpt
It is strange now, said Mrs Herbert,
human
Her summer may be to come, even on earth, replied Colonel Herbert;
gpt
It would be a great blessing, said Mrs Herbert,
human
Perhaps it would be best, observed Colonel Herbert,
gpt
Always remembering that we well weigh all the difficulties, said Mrs Herbert.
human
I see your mind runs on just as fast as mine; you speak as if you had no doubt what your decision would be.
gpt
Perhaps I have not; however, it is as well to be reminded of prudence; so, for the next day or two, we will forget that we have any inclinations, and look only to the objections.
human
Perhaps, she said,