He had been the means
of perverting Frank, and Lenore could not see that she need any
longer be bound for his sake to the life she detested. In a few
weeks she would be of age, and what would then prevent her from
finding a congenial home in the Sisterhood, since such kindred could
have no just claim to her allegiance? It was the hasty
determination of one who had suffered a tacit persecution for three
years, and was now smarting under the cruellest of blows. Her lover
perverted, her conditions broken, her pledge gambled away, and all
this the work of her father and sister!
Conny and Bee thought her grave and more silent than usual, and when
Lady Susan met them in London there was no time for thought.
Saturday was spent on a harvest festival at a suburban church, after
which the daughters were despatched to their uncle's by a late
train. Sunday was spent in the pursuit of remarkable services; and
on Monday Lady Susan and Eleonora had gone to St. Faith's and the
Retreat began.
Here was to be the longed-for rest, for which she had thirsted all
the more through those days of hurry and of religious spectacles, as
she felt that, be they what they might to their regular attendants,
to her, as an outsider, they could be but sights, into whose spirit
her sick and wearied soul could not enter.
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