"Give me something to be grateful for, and you
shall see whether that baseness is in my nature."
"I have a great mind to put you to the proof," said she archly. "Let us
walk down this lane; then you can be as unjust to me _as you think
proper,_ without attracting public attention."
In the lane she told him quietly she knew the nature of his father's
objections to the alliance he had so much at heart, and they were
objections which her husband, on his return, would remove. On this he
changed his tone a little, and implored her piteously not to deceive him.
"I will not," said she, "upon my honour. If you are as constant as my
daughter is in her esteem for you--notwithstanding her threadbare gaiety
worn over loyal regret, and to check a parcel of idle ladies'
tongues--you have nothing to fear from me, and everything to expect.
Come, _Alfred_--may I take that liberty with you?--let us understand one
another. We only want that to be friends."
This was hard to resist and at his age. His lip trembled, he hesitated,
but at last gave her his hand. She walked two hours with him, and laid
herself out to enlighten, soothe, and comfort his sore heart His hopes
and happiness revived under her magic, as Julia's had.
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