'Yes; that's where you'll be best off and most independent,' he
answered. 'And I'll come to see you, my dear girl, and bring you
pretty things; and perhaps you'll be just as happy there.'
Nevertheless, when the change came, and Dorothy was handed over to
the kind cottage-woman, the poor child missed the luxurious
roominess of Fernell Hall and Deansleigh; and for a long time her
little feet, which had been accustomed to carpets and oak floors,
suffered from the cold of the stone flags on which it was now her
lot to live and to play; while chilblains came upon her fingers with
washing at the pump. But thicker shoes with nails in them somewhat
remedied the cold feet, and her complaints and tears on this and
other scores diminished to silence as she became inured anew to the
hardships of the farm-cottage, and she grew up robust if not
handsome. She was never altogether lost sight of by Sir Ashley,
though she was deprived of the systematic education which had been
devised and begun for her by Lady Mottisfont, as well as by her
other mamma, the enthusiastic Countess. The latter soon had other
Dorothys to think of, who occupied her time and affection as fully
as Lady Mottisfont's were occupied by her precious boy. In the
course of time the doubly-desired and doubly-rejected Dorothy
married, I believe, a respectable road-contractor--the same, if I
mistake not, who repaired and improved the old highway running from
Wintoncester south-westerly through the New Forest--and in the heart
of this worthy man of business the poor girl found the nest which
had been denied her by her own flesh and blood of higher degree.
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