My Novel — Volume 04 by Baron Edward Bulwer Lytton Lytton
page 11 of 115 (09%)
page 11 of 115 (09%)
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But so naturally amiable was she, that she hastened to curb her emotion,
and efface as well as she could the trace of a stepmother's grief. When this was done, and a silent, self-rebuking prayer murmured over, the good woman descended the stairs with alacrity, and summoning up her best smiles, emerged on the terrace. She was repaid; for scarcely had she come into the open air, when two little arms were thrown around her, and the sweetest voice that ever came from a child's lips sighed out in broken English, "Good mamma, love me a little." "Love you? with my whole heart!" cried the stepmother, with all a mother's honest passion. And she clasped the child to her breast. "God bless you, my wife!" said Riccabocca, in a husky tone. "Please take this too," added Jackeymo, in Italian, as well as his sobs would let him, and he broke off a great bough full of blossoms from his favourite orange-tree, and thrust it into his mistress's hand. She had not the slightest notion what he meant by it! CHAPTER III. Violante was indeed a bewitching child,--a child to whom I defy Mrs. Caudle herself (immortal Mrs. Caudle!) to have been a harsh stepmother. Look at her now, as released from those kindly arms, she stands, still |
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