So
she said with matronly dignity, and the old Julian consistency, "You are
a foolish impetuous boy. You are the plague of my life: and--the sun of
my existence." That passed off charmingly. But presently his evil genius
prompted Alfred to endeavour to soften Mrs. Dodd by letter, and induce
her to consent to his marriage with her daughter. He received her answer
at breakfast-time. It was wonderfully polite and cold; Mrs. Dodd feigned
unmixed surprise at the proposal, and said that insanity being
unfortunately in her own family, and the suspicion of insanity resting on
himself, such a union was not to be thought of; and therefore,
notwithstanding her respect for his many good qualities, she must decline
with thanks the honour he offered her. She inserted a poisoned sting by
way of postscript. "When you succeed in publicly removing the impression
your own relations share with me, and when my husband owes his
restoration to you, instead of his destruction, of course you will
receive a very different answer to your proposal--should you then think
it consistent with your dignity to renew it.
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