"His spirits would not be worn
by doubt of _you_--the worst doubt of all: and he would feel that
he had something to strive for."
Eleonora walked on for some steps in silence, then exclaimed, "Yes,
but there's his family. It would only stir up trouble for them
there. They can't approve of me."
"They don't know you. When they do, they will. Now they only see
what looks like--forgive me, Lena--caprice and coquetry; they will
know you in earnest, if you will let them."
"You don't mean that they know anything about it!" exclaimed
Eleonora.
Jenny almost laughed. "Not know where poor Frank's heart is? You
don't guess how those sons live with their mother!"
"I suppose I have forgotten what sincerity and openness are," said
Eleonora, sadly. "But is not she very much vexed?"
"She was vexed to find it had gone so deep with him," said Jenny;
"but I know that you can earn her affection and trust by being
staunch and true yourself--and it is worth having, Lena!"
For Jenny knew Eleonora of old, through Emily's letters, and had no
doubt of her rectitude, constancy, and deep principle, though she
was at the present time petrified by constant antagonism to such
untruthfulness as, where it cannot corrupt, almost always hardens
those who come in contact with it.
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