 her face
buried in her hands was crying very much.
    At first sight of this phenomenon (for Dolly was by no means accustomed to
displays of this sort, rather learning from her mother's example to avoid them
as much as possible) Mrs. Varden expressed her belief that never was any woman
so beset as she; that her life was a continued scene of trial; that whenever she
was disposed to be well and cheerful, so sure were the people around her to
throw, by some means or other, a damp upon her spirits; and that, as she had
enjoyed herself that day, and Heaven knew it was very seldom she did enjoy
herself, so she was now to pay the penalty. To all such propositions Miggs
assented freely. Poor Dolly, however, grew none the better for these
restoratives, but rather worse, indeed; and seeing that she was really ill, both
Mrs. Varden and Miggs were moved to compassion, and tended her in earnest.
    But even then, their very kindness shaped itself into their usual course of
policy, and though Dolly was in a swoon, it was rendered clear to the meanest
capacity, that Mrs. Varden was the sufferer. Thus when Dolly began to get a
little better, and passed into that stage in which matrons hold that
remonstrance and argument may be successfully applied, her mother represented to
her, with tears in her eyes, that if she had been flurried and worried that day,
she must remember it was the common lot of humanity, and in especial of
womankind, who through the whole of their existence must expect no less, and
were bound to make up their minds to meek endurance and patient resignation.
Mrs. Varden entreated her to remember that one of these days she would, in all
probability, have to do violence to her feelings so far as to be married; and
that marriage, as she might see every day of her life (and truly she did) was a
state requiring great fortitude and forbearance. She represented to her in
lively colours, that if she (Mrs. V.) had not, in steering her course through
this vale of tears, been supported by a strong principle of duty which alone
upheld and prevented her from drooping, she must have been in her grave many
years ago; in which case she desired to know what would have become of that
errant spirit (meaning the locksmith), of whose eye she was the very apple, and
in whose path she was, as it were, a shining light and guiding star?
    Miss Miggs also put in her word
