Life seems ended.
"I could have loved him well. And now show me how to tear him out of my
heart; or what will become of me?"
While Mrs. Dodd wrote to Alfred Hardie, Julia sank down and laid her head
on her mother's knees. The note was shown her; she approved it languidly.
A long and sad conversation followed; and, after kissing her mother and
clinging to her, she went to bed chilly and listless, but did not shed a
single tear. Her young heart was benumbed by the unexpected blow.
Next morning early, Alfred Hardie started gaily to spend the day at
Albion Villa. Not a hundred yards from the gate he met Sarah, with Mrs.
Dodd's letter, enclosing a copy of his father's to her. Mrs. Dodd here
reminded him that his visits had been encouraged only upon a
misapprehension of his father's sentiments; for which misapprehension he
was in some degree to blame: not that she meant to reproach him on that
score, especially at this unhappy moment: no, she rather blamed herself
for listening to the sanguine voice of youth; but the error must now be
repaired. She and Julia would always wish him well, and esteem him,
provided he made no further attempt to compromise a young lady who could
not be his wife.
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