The calmest of all the troubled
household was Mrs. Markland. Fanny, whom the event had awakened from
a partial stupor, gradually declined into her former state. She
moved about more like an automaton than a living figure; entering
into all the duties and activities appertaining to the approaching
change, yet seeming entirely indifferent to all external things. She
was living and suffering in the inner world, more than in the outer.
With the crushing out of a wild, absorbing love, had died all
interest in life. She was in the external world, but, so far as any
interest in passing events was concerned, not of it. Sad, young
heart. A most cruel experience was thine!
When the disastrous intelligence was made known to Aunt Grace, that
rather peculiar and excitable personage did not fail to say that it
was nothing more than she had expected; that she had seen the storm
coming, long and long ago, and had long and long ago lifted, without
avail, a voice of warning. As for Mr. Lyon, he received a double
share of execration--ending with the oft-repeated remark, that she
had felt his shadow when he first came among them, and that she knew
he must be a bad man.
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