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Article FATHER AND SON. ← Page 14 of 30 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Father And Son.
a risk which I should not coA et for a child of my oivn . Your father Avas my oldest and fastest friend , and I Avill not believe that his daughter could act unworthily . It is not yet too late . Do not persist in so poor a jest . I am Avilling to take upon myself the charge of inconsistency , and to leave to you the merit of having overruled an unjust and exorbitant pretension . "
" Perhaps you will , in the first place , have the kindness to communicate to me the contents of Mr . Leicester ' s letter , " was the cold rejoinder of the heiress . With a look of extreme vexation Mr . Crawford drew a chair towards that of his Avard ; and Avithout a single interruption on her part read as follows : —
" Dear Sir , —To assert that the nature of your late communication did not take me by surprise , Avould be idle , as I confess that I ivas by no means prepared , particularly Avhen matters had progressed so far between Miss Lauriston and my son , for so extreme an ultimatum on your part ; and I may consequently be permitted to add , that nothing , save my perfect appreciation
of the young lady ' s character , could have induced me to comply with a condition by which I am called upon to relinquish my birthright , and to become the dependent of my own child . Convinced , hoAvever , alike of Sydney ' s dutiful affection for myself , and of his sincere attachment for your amiable and accomplished ward—whose OAVII happiness I believefrom her frequent
, admissions to myself in our moments of confidence , to be equally involved in this marriage—I will even consent to make the sacrifice Avhich you demand of me ; in the full and perfect persuasion that , by contributing to the felicity of the two beings most clear to me on earth , I shall have no need for anxiety as to my OAVU comfort . By the arrangement which I had made , my children
Avould have dAvelt in my house ; by that which is to supersede it , I shall , as a matter of course , "become a guest in theirs , —a welcome one , however , I cannot doubt ; and therefore I will instruct my solicitor to take without delay the necessary steps for the transfer of my Avhole property to my son , Sydney Leicester , trusting that both Miss Lauriston and himself will feel how much I prefer their happiness to any personal and Avorldly consideration . I remain , dear sir , your obedient servant , " M ONTAGU LEICESTER . "
A deep silence succeeded , as Mr . Crawford refolded the letter , which was broken only by the laboured breathing of the heiress . " Well , Caroline , " at length exclaimed her guardian somewhat sternly , " Avhat think you of your future father-in-law ?" VOL . i . 2 I
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Father And Son.
a risk which I should not coA et for a child of my oivn . Your father Avas my oldest and fastest friend , and I Avill not believe that his daughter could act unworthily . It is not yet too late . Do not persist in so poor a jest . I am Avilling to take upon myself the charge of inconsistency , and to leave to you the merit of having overruled an unjust and exorbitant pretension . "
" Perhaps you will , in the first place , have the kindness to communicate to me the contents of Mr . Leicester ' s letter , " was the cold rejoinder of the heiress . With a look of extreme vexation Mr . Crawford drew a chair towards that of his Avard ; and Avithout a single interruption on her part read as follows : —
" Dear Sir , —To assert that the nature of your late communication did not take me by surprise , Avould be idle , as I confess that I ivas by no means prepared , particularly Avhen matters had progressed so far between Miss Lauriston and my son , for so extreme an ultimatum on your part ; and I may consequently be permitted to add , that nothing , save my perfect appreciation
of the young lady ' s character , could have induced me to comply with a condition by which I am called upon to relinquish my birthright , and to become the dependent of my own child . Convinced , hoAvever , alike of Sydney ' s dutiful affection for myself , and of his sincere attachment for your amiable and accomplished ward—whose OAVII happiness I believefrom her frequent
, admissions to myself in our moments of confidence , to be equally involved in this marriage—I will even consent to make the sacrifice Avhich you demand of me ; in the full and perfect persuasion that , by contributing to the felicity of the two beings most clear to me on earth , I shall have no need for anxiety as to my OAVU comfort . By the arrangement which I had made , my children
Avould have dAvelt in my house ; by that which is to supersede it , I shall , as a matter of course , "become a guest in theirs , —a welcome one , however , I cannot doubt ; and therefore I will instruct my solicitor to take without delay the necessary steps for the transfer of my Avhole property to my son , Sydney Leicester , trusting that both Miss Lauriston and himself will feel how much I prefer their happiness to any personal and Avorldly consideration . I remain , dear sir , your obedient servant , " M ONTAGU LEICESTER . "
A deep silence succeeded , as Mr . Crawford refolded the letter , which was broken only by the laboured breathing of the heiress . " Well , Caroline , " at length exclaimed her guardian somewhat sternly , " Avhat think you of your future father-in-law ?" VOL . i . 2 I