"You're the bravest little lady I ever knew," he said kindly; "and you
keep your word like a queen. There's some stuff to put to the place,
and there's sixpence, miss, if you'll take it, to buy lollipops with.
You'll be able to eat them now."
After which he gave her an old pill-box to carry the fragments of her
tooth in, and it was labelled "three to be taken at bed-time."
Madam Liberality staggered home, very giddy, but very happy. Moralists
say a great deal about pain treading so very closely on the heels of
pleasure in this life, but they are not always wise or grateful enough
to speak of the pleasure which springs out of pain. And yet there is a
bliss which comes just when pain has ceased, whose rapture rivals even
the high happiness of unbroken health; and there is a keen relish
about small pleasures hardly earned, in which the full measure of
those who can afford anything they want is sometimes lacking.
Relief is certainly one of the most delicious sensations which poor
humanity, can enjoy! Madam Liberality enjoyed it to the full, and she
had more happiness yet in her cup, I fear praise was very pleasant to
her, and the assistant had praised her, not undeservedly, and she knew
that further praise was in store from the dearest source of
approbation--from her mother.
Pages:
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263