From all close connection with
relatives on the side of the Duchess they had been dissevered by
old feelings at first, and afterwards by want of any similitude in
the habits of life. She had, when young been repressed by male and
female guardians with an iron hand. Such repression had been
needed, and had been perhaps salutary, but it had not left behind
it much affection. And then her nearest relatives were not
sympathetic with the Duke. He could obtain no assistance in the
care of his girl from that source. Nor could he even do it from
his own cousins' wives, who were his nearest connections on the
side of the Pallisers. They were women to whom he had ever been
kind, but to whom he had never opened his heart. When, in the
midst of the stunning sorrow of the first week, he tried to think
of all this, it seemed to him that there was nobody.
There had been one lady, a very dear ally, staying in the house
with them when the Duchess died. This was Mrs Finn, the wife of
Phineas Finn, who had been one of the Duke's colleagues when in
office.
Pages:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25