Part 74 (2/2)
”Would you like to be called one?”
”Oh, papa!”
”Is there n.o.body who has the right to apply the term to you?”
”I hope not.” (Red.)
”You encouraged Mr. Coventry's addresses?”
”I am afraid I did not discourage them, as I wish I had. It is so hard to foresee every thing.”
”Pray do you remember the fifth day of last December?”
”Can I ever forget it?” (Redder.)
”Is it true that Mr. Coventry proposed for you, that day?”
”Yes.”
”And you accepted him.”
”No; no. Then he has told you so? How ungenerous! All I did was, I hesitated, and cried, and didn't say 'no,' downright--like a fool. Oh, papa, have pity on me, and save me.” And now she was pale.
Mr. Carden's paternal heart was touched by this appeal, but he was determined to know the whole truth. ”You could love him, in time, I suppose?”
”Never.”
”Why?”
”Because--”
”Now tell me the truth. Have you another attachment?”
”Yes, dear papa.” (In a whisper and as red as fire.)
”Somebody of whom you are not proud.”
”I AM proud of him. He is Mr. Coventry's superior. He is everybody's superior in everything in the world.”
”No, Grace, you can hardly be proud of your attachment; if you had been, you would not have hidden it all this time from your father.” And Mr.
Carden sighed.
Grace burst out crying, and flung herself on her knees and clung, sobbing, to him.
”There, there,” said he, ”I don't want to reproach you; but to advise you.”
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