But you are so good and noble that I know you would
not dwell upon such an idea, and I hope that you do not so misjudge
me as to think me capable of such culpable neglect, now that you are
getting a little better acquainted with me. As you must know, your
mother, Cornelia, was excessively proud and high-spirited. She resented
every affront, whether intended as such or not, with extraordinary
violence, and when I was obliged, in spite of my most heartfelt wishes,
to separate myself from her, and reluctantly submit to a marriage that I
could not avoid, she obstinately refused to allow me to provide for
her maintenance in comfort and luxury, as well as for you and your
education. All that I gave her, and settled on her, she sent back to
me with the most exaggerated disdain, and inexorably refused to receive
again. I could not but admire, though I so deplored, her lofty spirit,
and proud rejection of every benefit which I desired to confer upon her,
and I left in the hands of a trusty agent, for her, the deeds of all the
landed property and houses I had destined for her, as well as the
money and jewels--so that she could at any time reclaim them, if she
would--hoping that she might see fit to change her mind when the first
flush of anger was over.
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