L., lib. 3, and after that "Triplet
on Kew," she would have instantly pronounced in favor of "Eden"; but if
_we_ had read her "Milton," and Mr. Vane had read her "Triplet," she
would have as unhesitatingly preferred "Kew" to "Paradise."
She was a true daughter of Eve; the lady, who, when an angel was telling
her and her husband the truths of heaven in heaven's own music, slipped
away into the kitchen, because she preferred hearing the story at
second-hand, encumbered with digressions, and in mortal but marital
accents.
When her mother, who guarded Mabel like a dragon, told her Mr. Vane was
not rich enough, and she really must not give him so many opportunities,
Mabel cried and embraced the: dragon, and said, "Oh, mother!" The dragon,
finding her ferocity dissolving, tried to shake her off, but the goose
would cry and embrace the dragon till it melted.
By and by Mr. Vane's uncle died suddenly and left him the great Stoken
Church estate, and a trunk full of Jacobuses and Queen Anne's
guineas--his own hoard and his father's--then the dragon spake
comfortably and said: "My child, he is now the richest man in Shropshire.
He will not think of you now; so steel your heart."
Then Mabel, contrary to all expectations, did not cry; but, with flushing
cheek, pledged her life upon Ernest's love and honor: and Ernest, as soon
as the funeral, etc.
Pages:
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139