I'll be as deep as him, and take no more notice of the affair till he comes home and tells me himself.' So although the squire was always delighted to receive the little notes which Cynthia sent to him every time she heard from Roger, and although this attention on her part was melting the heart he tried to harden, he controlled himself into writing her the briefest acknowledgements.His words were strong in meaning, but formal in expression; she herself did not think much about them, being satisfied to do the kind actions that called them forth.But her mother criticized them and pondered them.She thought she had hit on the truth when she had decided in her own mind that it was a very old-fashioned style, and that he and his house and his furniture all wanted some of the brightening up and polishing which they were sure to receive, when -- she never quite liked to finish the sentence definitely, although she kept repeating to herself that 'there was no harm in it.' To return to the squire.Occupied as he now was, he recovered his former health, and something of his former cheerfulness.If Osborne had met him half-way, it is probable that the old bond between father and son might have been renewed; but Osborne either was really an invalid, or had sunk into invalid habits, and made no effort to rally.If his father urged him to go out - nay, once or twice he gulped down his pride, and asked Osborne to accompany him - Osborne would go to the window and find out some flaw or speck in the wind or weather, and make that an excuse for stopping in the house over his books.He would saunter out on the sunny side of the house in a manner that the squire considered as both indolent and unmanly.
