Chapter 9 Miss Mackenzie’s Philosophy
Miss Mackenzie remained quiet in her room for two days after her return before she went out to see anybody. These last Christmas weeks had certainly been the most eventful period of her life, and there was very much of which it was necessary that she should think. She had, she thought, made up her mind to refuse her cousin’s offer; but the deed was not yet done. She had to think of the mode in which she must do it; and she could not but remember, also, that she might still change her mind in that matter if she pleased. The anger produced in her by Lady Ball’s claim, as it were, to her fortune, had almost evaporated; but the memory of her cousin’s story of his troubles was still fresh. “I have a hard time of it sometimes, I can tell you.” Those words a
