At first Alora was heart-broken over her mother's loss. She lived in a sort of stupor¹ for weeks after the funeral. Her father's presence she accepted without comment or emotion, for it had been arranged by "Mamma Tone." She did not consider, in those first weeks, whether she cared for her newly found father or not. Her mother's statement that he was a "good man" and would love Alora dearly was taken by the child as a matter of fact, while her mother's injunction to love him and confide² in him in her stead was for the present ignored.

 

Indeed, during those first weeks Lory had no fault to find with her new protector, for she saw little of him. Jason Jones retained his room at the hotel and allowed Alora and her governess to inhabit the handsome suite³ her mother had occupied, although they were much too small for the big apartments. However, Lory would have felt uncomfortable, just then, in any other place. Her mother's chamber⁴ was closed and the curtains drawn⁵, but every night before she retired⁶ to her own little room the child would steal in, in the dark, and feel her way to the empty bed and kiss the pillow on which her dear mother's head had rested. Miss Gorham, the governess, was aware of these evening excursions, but offered no objection. Indeed, the woman objected to nothing that did not interfere⁷ with her own personal comfort and convenience. Under the eyes of Mrs. Jones she had been prim⁸ and dutiful, but there was no one to chide⁹ her now, however neglectful she chose to be, and it was true that during these days the little girl required no particular care. Alora resumed her morning studies with

分享到：