I knew likewise that it was my brother's earnest
desire that a match should take place between your children and his.
"He did me too much honour. The lad showed me the extract from his
letter."
"I could not give him the whole. It was fit for no eyes but mine,
who had so long neglected it, and barely understood that it existed.
My poor brother's eyes were fully opened to his wife's character, and
even while he loved her to distraction, and yielded to her fascinating
mastery against his better judgment, he left me the charge of trying
in some degree to repair the injustice he believed you to be suffering,
and of counteracting evil influences on her son."
"That seems at least to have been done."
"By no efforts of mine; but because the boy was happily permitted
to remain with the worthy tutor his father had chosen for him, and
because Wayland is an excellent man, wise and prudent in all things
save in being bewitched by a fair face. Would that he were returned!
When I first consented to act this fool's part, I trusted that he
would have been at home soon enough to prevent more than the nominal
engagement, and when my Lady's threats rendered it needful to secure
the poor child by giving her my name, I still expected him before my
young gentleman should utterly betray himself by his warmth.
Pages:
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302