those high feelings, which I know he possesses, not to crush
an attachment which has grown up under his eyes, and been fostered by
his kindness."
The Duke was a little moved by Wilton's words and his manner; but he
had taken his resolution to make the present discussion between
himself and Wilton final, and he seized instantly upon the latter
words of his reply.
"Grown up under my eye, and fostered by my kindness!" he exclaimed.
"You do not mean to say, sir, I trust, that I gave you any
encouragement in this mad pursuit. You do not mean to say that I saw
and connived at your attachment to my daughter?"
Wilton might very well have said that he certainly did give such
encouragement and opportunity that the result could scarcely have
been by any possibility otherwise than that which it actually was.
But he knew that to show him in fault would only irritate the Duke
more, and he was silent.
"Good God!" continued the peer, "such a thing never entered into my
head. It was so preposterous, so insane, so out of all reasonable
calculation, that I might just as well have been afraid of building
my house under a hill for fear the hill should walk out of its place
and crush it. I could never have dreamed of or fancied such a thing,
sir, as that you should forget the difference between my daughter,
Lady Laura Gaveston, and yourself, and presume to seek the hand of
one so much above you. It shows how kindness and condescension may
be mistaken. Lord Byerdale, indeed, talks some vague nonsense about
your having good blood in your veins; but what are your titles, sir?
what is your rank? where are your estates? Show me your rent-rolls.
I have never known anything of Mr. Wilton Brown but as the private
secretary of the Earl of Byerdale--HIS CLERK he called him to me one
day--who has nothing but a good person, a good coat, and two or three
hundred a year. Mr. Wilton Brown to be the suitor for the only child
of one of the first peers in the land, the heiress of a hundred
thousand per annum! My dear sir, the thing was too ridiculous to be
thought of. If people had told me I should have my eyes picked out by
a sparrow I should have believed them as much;" and he laughed aloud
at his own joke, not with the laugh of merriment, but of anger and
scorn.
Wilton felt cut to the heart, but still he recollected that it was
Laura's father who spoke; and he was resolved that no provocation
whatsoever should induce him to say one word which he himself might
repent at an after period, o