I know myself so well that I dare say
positively that her money,--if it be that she will have money,--had
no attractions for me when I first became acquainted with her and
adds nothing now to the persistency with which I claim her hand.
'But I venture to ask whether you can dare to keep us apart if her
happiness depends on her lover for me? It is now more than six
months since I called upon you in London and explained my wishes.
You will understand me when I say that I cannot be contented to
sit idle, trusting simply to the assurance I have of her
affection. Did I doubt it, my way would be more clear. I should
feel in that case that she would yield to your wishes, and I
should then, as I have said before, just take myself out of the
way. But if it be not so, then I am bound to do something,--on her
behalf as well as my own. What am I to do? Any endeavours to meet
her clandestinely is against my instincts, and would certainly be
rejected by her. A secret correspondence would be equally
distasteful to both of us. Whatever I do in this matter, I wish
you to know that I do it.
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