He
promised to help me, as far as he had the power, in resisting the
hateful Aresfield engagement, and he obtained the assistance of an
old friend in making himself acquainted with the terms of his
guardianship, and likewise of a letter my father had left for him.
He has given me leave to show a part of it to you, sir," he added,
"you will see that my father expressed a strong opinion that you were
wronged in the matter of the estates, and declared that he had hoped
to make some compensation by a contract between one of your daughters
and my brother who died. He charged my uncle if possible to endeavour
to bring about such a match between one of your children and myself.
Thus, you see, I was acting in the strictest obedience. You shall
see the letter at once, if I may bid my fellow Gray bring my pocket-
book from my valise."
"I doubt not of your words, my young friend; your father was a
gentleman of a high and scrupulous honour. But why all this hide-
and-seek work?--I hate holes and corners!"
"You will see how we were driven, sir. My mother came in her turn
to see my uncle, and obtain his sanction to her cherished plan, and
when he absolutely refused, on account of Lady Aresfield's notorious
character, if for no other, she made him understand that nothing would
be easier than to get him declared a lunatic and thus to dispense
with his consent.
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