As the summer came nearer and nearer, Mrs. Vanstone's spirits, in spite
of her resolute efforts to control them, became more and more depressed.
"I do my best," she said to Miss Garth; "I set an example of
cheerfulness to my husband and my children--but I dread July." Norah's
secret misgivings on her sister's account rendered her more than usually
serious and uncommunicative, as the year advanced. Even Mr. Vanstone,
when July drew nearer, lost something of his elasticity of spirit. He
kept up appearances in his wife's presence--but on all other occasions
there was now a perceptible shade of sadness in his look and manner.
Magdalen was so changed since Frank's departure that she helped the
general depression, instead of relieving it. All her movements had grown
languid; all her usual occupations were pursued with the same weary
indifference; she spent hours alone in her own room; she lost her
interest in being brightly and prettily dressed; her eyes were heavy,
her nerves were irritable, her complexion was altered visibly for the
worse--in one word, she had become an oppression and a weariness to
herself and to all about her. Stoutly as Miss Garth contended with these
growing domestic difficulties, her own spirits suffered in the effort.
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