Now
sit down. I esteem you more than ever. You have come down from another
age and a much better one than this. Now let us be calm, quiet,
sensible, tranquil. Hallo!" (starting up in agitation), "a sudden
light bursts on me. You are in love, and not with my wife; then it is
my ward."
"It is too late to deny it, sir."
"That is far more serious than the other," said Bazalgette, very
gravely; "the old one would have been sure to cure you of your fancy
for her, soon or late, but Lucy! Now, just look at that young buffer's
eyes glaring at us like a pair of saucers."
"I am not listening, papa; I haven't heard a word you and Mr. Dodd
have said about naughty ladies. I have been such a good boy, minding
my puzzle."
"I wish he may not have been minding ours instead," muttered his sire,
and rang the bell, and ordered the servant to take away Master
Reginald and bring coffee.
The pair sipped their coffee in dead silence. It was broken at last by
David saying sadly and a little bitterly, "I fear, sir, your good
opinion of me does not go the length of letting me come into your
family."
The merchant seemed during the last five minutes to have undergone
some starching process, so changed was his whole manner now; so
distant, dignified and stiff. "Mr. Dodd," said he, "I am in a
difficult position. Insincerity is no part of my character. When I say
I have a regard for a man, I mean it. But I am the young lady's
guardian, sir. She is a minor, though on the verge of her majority,
and I cannot advise her to a match which, in the received sense, would
be a very bad one for her.
Pages:
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360