The income was
but a small one, but it was sufficient for the family to live upon
with care and prudence.
Captain Sankey had made many friends since the time when he first
settled at Marsden, and all vied with each other in their kindness
to his widow. Presents of game were constantly left for her; baskets
of chickens, eggs, and fresh vegetables were sent down by Squire
Simmonds and other county magnates, and their carriages often stopped
at the door to make inquiries. Many people who had not hitherto
called now did so, and all Marsden seemed anxious to testify its
sympathy with the widow of the brave officer.
Ned was touched with these evidences of respect for his father's
memory. Mrs. Sankey was pleased for herself, and she would of an
evening inform Ned with much gratification of the visits she had
received.
Ned was glad that anything should occur which could rouse his mother,
and divert her from her own grievances; but the tone in which she
spoke often jarred painfully upon him, and he wondered how his
mother could find it in her heart to receive these people and to
talk over his father's death.
But Mrs. Sankey liked it. She was conscious she looked well in
her deep mourning, and that even the somber cap was not unbecoming
with her golden hair peeping out beneath it. Tears were always at
her command, and she had ever a few ready to drop upon her dainty
embroidered handkerchief when the occasion commanded it; and her
visitors, when they agreed among themselves, what a soft gentle
woman that poor Mrs.
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