But Mrs. Atherton had spoken to her and that was something, and helped
to keep her spirits up as she was driven along the turnpike to the
entrance of the park.
On the occasion of Mrs. Frank's first and only visit to her
brother-in-law it was winter, and everything was covered with snow. But
it was summer now, the month of roses, and fragrance, and beauty, and as
the carriage passed up the broad, smooth avenue which led to the house,
Dolly's eyes wandered over the well-kept lawn, sweet with the scent of
newly-mown grass, the parteries of flowers and shrubs, the winding walks
and clumps of evergreens here and there formed into fancy rooms, with
rustic seats and tables under the over-hanging boughs; and when she
reflected that all this was hers to enjoy for many years, and perhaps
for her life-time, she felt the first stirring of that pride, and
satisfaction, and self-assertion which was to grow upon her so rapidly
and transform her from the plain, unpretentious woman who had washed,
and ironed, and baked, and mended in the small house in Langley into the
arrogant, haughty lady of fashion, who courted only the rich and looked
down upon her less fortunate neighbors. Now, however, she was very meek
and humble, and trembled as she alighted from the carriage before the
great stone house which was to be her home.
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