FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   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   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   >>   >|  
ou young rascal! I shall go home with you to-morrow, and--" "Will it take place at once?" I asked with a pang at my heart. "What? our marriage? You are hurrying matters charmingly. Mrs. Randolph has not yet accepted me. But I will confess to you, my boy, that I shall be more than happy, more than proud, if I can persuade her to allow me to introduce her to my friends in Washington in December." We walked about for more than an hour after, but said no more about the matter, although it was stirring below every thought and word of each of us. I felt the weariness of soul which succeeds a struggle, and my guardian tried, but unsuccessfully, to conceal the elation which follows victory. Yet subdued and unhappy though I was, haunted by a sense of terrible loss, I was proud and glad to have contented him. He talked to me intimately, and discussed my plans for the future. I was to enter college the next year, and he pointed out the fact, to which I was not insensible, that our old life at home would necessarily have been broken up when I left Belfield. He spoke of my pecuniary means, and frankly informed me that his property amounted to three hundred thousand dollars, and that this amount he had divided into thirds--one for my mother, one for Helen and one for me. "Oh, sir," I burst out, "you must not be so generous to me." "And why not? My little girl has too much already: it has always been one of the discomforts of my life that she is so rich, so raised above all human wants, that I have had it in my power to do nothing for her. I have seen poor men buying clothes and shoes for their little sunburned children, and envied them." We had been lounging toward the house, and now had reached the terrace, where we found Mr. Raymond pacing feebly up and down in the mild sunshine leaning on Frederick's arm. Mr. Floyd stepped forward and took the valet's place, investing the slight courtesy with the charm of his grand manner. "Where is Helen?" asked Mr. Raymond. "I supposed that she was with you, James." "I have not seen her since breakfast.--Suppose you look her up, Floyd? I am afraid she is with Miss Georgy, and in mischief, no doubt.--I object, sir," Mr. Floyd added to his father-in-law, "to Helen's having too much of the society of Miss Lenox. She is a pretty little devil enough, but then I don't like pretty little devils." "I have written to Mrs. Lenox to recall her," returned Mr. Raymond stiffly. "She is no
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   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   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   >>   >|  



Top keywords:
Raymond
 

pretty

 

buying

 
clothes
 

children

 

lounging

 

envied

 

mother

 

sunburned

 

raised


discomforts

 
generous
 

object

 
father
 
mischief
 

Georgy

 

Suppose

 

breakfast

 

afraid

 

society


written

 

devils

 

recall

 

returned

 

stiffly

 
sunshine
 

leaning

 

feebly

 

pacing

 

terrace


Frederick

 

manner

 
supposed
 

courtesy

 

slight

 

stepped

 

forward

 

investing

 

reached

 

broken


matter
 
walked
 

December

 

persuade

 

introduce

 
friends
 

Washington

 
stirring
 
weariness
 

succeeds