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people who had congregated about the coach, and fell upon each
other's neck, and sobbed, and wept with joy. Their plain and simple
dress, the distance which the child had come alone, their agitation
and delight, and the tears they shed, would have told their history by
themselves.
They became a little more composed in a short time, and went away,
not so much hand in hand as clinging to each other. 'Are you sure
you're happy, sister?' said the child as they passed where Nell was
standing. 'Quite happy now,' she answered. 'But always?' said the
child. 'Ah, sister, why do you turn away your face?'
Nell could not help following at a little distance. They went to the
house of an old nurse, where the elder sister had engaged a bed-room
for the child. 'I shall come to you early every morning,' she said, 'and
we can be together all the day.-'-'Why not at night-time too? Dear
sister, would they be angry with you for that?'
Why were the eyes of little Nell wet, that night, with tears like those of
the two sisters? Why did she bear a grateful heart because they had
met, and feel it pain to think that they would shortly part? Let us not
believe that any selfish reference - unconscious though it might have
been - to her own trials awoke this sympathy, but thank God that the
innocent joys of others can strongly move us, and that we, even in our
fallen nature, have one source of pure emotion which must be prized
in Heaven!
By morning's cheerful glow, but oftener still by evening's gentle light,
the child, with a respect for the short and happy intercourse of these
two sisters which forbade her to approach and say a thankful word,
although she yearned to do so, followed them at a distance in their
walks and rambles, stopping when they stopped, sitting on the grass
when they sat down, rising when they went on, and feeling it a
companionship and delight to be so near them. Their evening walk
was by a river's side. Here, every night, the child was too, unseen by
them, unthought of, unregarded; but feeling as if they were her
friends, as if they had confidences and trusts together, as if her load
were lightened and less hard to bear; as if they mingled their sorrows,
and found mutual consolation. It was a weak fancy perhaps, the
childish fancy of a young and lonely creature; but night after night,
and still the sisters loitered in the same place, and still the child
followed with a mild and softened heart.
She was much startled, on returning home one night, to find that Mrs
Jarley had commanded an announcement to be prepared, to the effect
that the stupendous collection would only remain in its present
quarters one day longer; in fulfilment of which threat (for all
announcements connected with public amusements are well known to
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