"
"Does he admit any visits?"
"Oh no. He has been entirely shut up, except from the lawyer,
Hargrave, on business. Mr. Wayland, indeed, strove to rouse him from
his despondency, but without success, except that latterly he became
willing to receive him."
"Have you ever conversed with him?"
There was an ingenuous blush as the young man replied. "I fear I must
confess myself remiss. Mr. Wayland has sometimes carried me with him
to see my uncle, but not with my good will, and my mother objected lest
it should break my spirits. However, when I left Gibraltar, my good
father charged me to endeavour from time to time to enliven my uncle's
solitude, but there were impediments to my going to him, and I take
shame to myself for not having striven to overcome them."
"Rightly spoken, my young kinsman," cried the Major. "There are no
such impediments as a man's own distaste."
"And pity will remove that," said Betty.
Soon after the removal of the cloth the ladies withdrew, and Eugene
was called to his catechism, but he was soon released, for the Tokay
had made her father sleepy, while it seemed to have emboldened Mr.
Arden, since he came forth with direct intent to engross Harriet; and
Sir Amyas wandered towards Betty, apologising for the interruption.
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