The Heart of Mid-Lothian - Penn State University

keeping, and promiscuous dancing, to which, at her time
of life, most people would have thought Effie more exposed,
than to the risk of theoretical error in her religious
faith.
Jeanie parted from her sister with a mixed feeling of
regret, and apprehension, and hope. She could not be so
confident concerning Effie’s prudence as her father, for
she had observed her more narrowly, had more sympathy
with her feelings, and could better estimate the temptations
to which she was exposed. On the other hand,
Mrs. Saddletree was an observing, shrewd, notable
woman, entitled to exercise over Effie the full authority
of a mistress, and likely to do so strictly, yet with kindness.
Her removal to Saddletree’s, it was most probable,
would also serve to break off some idle acquaintances,
which Jeanie suspected her sister to have formed in the
neighbouring suburb. Upon the whole, then, she viewed
her departure from Saint Leonard’s with pleasure, and
it was not until the very moment of their parting for
the first time in their lives, that she felt the full force of
sisterly sorrow. While they repeatedly kissed each other’s
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cheeks, and wrung each other’s hands, Jeanie took that
moment of affectionate sympathy, to press upon her
sister the necessity of the utmost caution in her conduct
while residing in Edinburgh. Effie listened, without
once raising her large dark eyelashes, from which
the drops fell so fast as almost to resemble a fountain.
At the conclusion she sobbed again, kissed her sister,
promised to recollect all the good counsel she had given
her, and they parted.
During the first weeks, Effie was all that her kinswoman
expected, and even more. But with time there
came a relaxation of that early zeal which she manifested
in Mrs. Saddletree’s service. To borrow once again
from the poet, who so correctly and beautifully describes
living manners:—
Something there was,—what, none presumed to say,—
Clouds lightly passing on a summer’s day;
Whispers and hints, which went from ear to ear,
And mixed reports no judge on earth could clear.