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Collins, Wilkie, 1824-1889

"No Name"

They were just enough not to blame Norah for this;
they were just enough to acknowledge that her conduct had been as
irreproachable as I had guaranteed it should be when I got her the
situation. But, at the same time, they made it a positive condition of
her continuing in their employment that she should never permit you to
visit her at their house, or to meet her and walk out with her when she
was in attendance on the children. Your sister--who has patiently borne
all hardships that fell on herself--instantly resented the slur cast on
_you_. She gave her employers warning on the spot. High words followed,
and she left the house that evening.
"I have no wish to distress you by representing the loss of this
situation in the light of a disaster. Norah was not so happy in it as
I had hoped and believed she would be. It was impossible for me to know
beforehand that the children were sullen and intractable, or that the
husband's mother was accustomed to make her domineering disposition felt
by every one in the house. I will readily admit that Norah is well out
of this situation. But the harm does not stop here. For all you and
I know to the contrary, the harm may go on.


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