FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   283   284   285   286   287   288   289   290   291   292   293   294   295   296   297   298   299   300   301   302   303   304   305   306   307  
308   309   310   >>  
y, I hear that Mr. Rutland pays his addresses to you, and visits at Highmore." "Yes, he has been there twice." "He is welcome to your father; and his prospects are dazzling; and he is not a boy, for he has long mustaches." "I am not dazzled by his mustaches, and still less by his prospects," said the fair young beauty. "You are an extraordinary girl." "That she is," said Mrs. Bassett. "Her father has no more power over her than I have." "Oh, mamma! am I a disobedient girl, then?" "No, no. Only in this one thing, I see you will go your own way." Lady Bassett put in her word. "Well, but this one thing is the happiness or misery of her whole life. I cannot blame her for looking well before she leaps." A grateful look from Ruperta's glorious eyes repaid the speaker. "But," said Lady Bassett, tenderly, "it is something to have two mothers when you marry, instead of one; and you would have two, my love; I would try and live for you." This touched Ruperta to the heart; she curled round Lady Bassett's neck, and they kissed each other like mother and daughter. "This is too great a temptation," said Ruperta. "Yes; I _will_ engage myself to Cousin Compton, if papa's consent can be obtained. Without his consent I could not marry any one." "Nobody can obtain it, if you cannot," said Mrs. Bassett. Ruperta shook her head. "Mark my words, mamma, it will take me years to gain it. Papa is as obstinate as a mule. To be sure, I am as obstinate as fifty." "It shall not take years, nor yet months," said Lady Bassett. "I know _Mr. Bassett's_ objection, and I will remove it, cost me what it may." This speech surprised the other two ladies so, they made no reply. Said Lady Bassett firmly, "Do you pledge yourself to me, if I can obtain Mr. Bassett's consent?" "I do," said Ruperta. "But--" "You think my power with your father must be smaller than yours. I hope to show you you are mistaken." The ladies rose to go: Lady Bassett took leave of them thus: "Good-by, my most valued friend, and sister in sorrow; good-by, my dear daughter." At the gate of Huntercombe, whom should they meet but Compton Bassett, looking very pale and unhappy. He was upon honor not to speak to Ruperta; but he gazed on her with a wistful and terrified look that was very touching. She gave him a soft pitying smile in return, that drove him almost wild with hope. That night Richard Bassett sat in his chair, gloomy. Whe
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   283   284   285   286   287   288   289   290   291   292   293   294   295   296   297   298   299   300   301   302   303   304   305   306   307  
308   309   310   >>  



Top keywords:

Bassett

 

Ruperta

 

consent

 

father

 

obstinate

 

daughter

 

ladies

 

obtain

 

Compton

 

mustaches


prospects

 

pledge

 
firmly
 

objection

 

remove

 
months
 

surprised

 

speech

 

valued

 
wistful

unhappy

 

terrified

 

touching

 

return

 
Richard
 

pitying

 

mistaken

 
smaller
 

gloomy

 

Huntercombe


friend

 

sister

 
sorrow
 

disobedient

 

extraordinary

 

misery

 

happiness

 
beauty
 
visits
 

Highmore


addresses

 

Rutland

 

dazzled

 

dazzling

 

temptation

 

engage

 

mother

 
kissed
 

Cousin

 

Nobody