FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   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   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161   >>   >|  
t he was neither a fool nor a knave, though, possibly, neither a sage nor a saint--but that is no matter to me, as I am not likely to meet him again--unless as an occasional partner in the ball-room.' It was not so, however, for I met him again next morning. He came to call upon my uncle, apologising for not having done so before, by saying he was only lately returned from the Continent, and had not heard, till the previous night, of my uncle's arrival in town; and after that I often met him; sometimes in public, sometimes at home; for he was very assiduous in paying his respects to his old friend, who did not, however, consider himself greatly obliged by the attention. 'I wonder what the deuce the lad means by coming so often,' he would say,--'can you tell, Helen?--Hey? He wants none o' my company, nor I his--that's certain.' 'I wish you'd tell him so, then,' said my aunt. 'Why, what for? If I don't want him, somebody does, mayhap' (winking at me). 'Besides, he's a pretty tidy fortune, Peggy, you know--not such a catch as Wilmot; but then Helen won't hear of that match: for, somehow, these old chaps don't go down with the girls--with all their money, and their experience to boot. I'll bet anything she'd rather have this young fellow without a penny, than Wilmot with his house full of gold. Wouldn't you, Nell?' 'Yes, uncle; but that's not saying much for Mr. Huntingdon; for I'd rather be an old maid and a pauper than Mrs. Wilmot.' 'And Mrs. Huntingdon? What would you rather be than Mrs. Huntingdon--eh?' 'I'll tell you when I've considered the matter.' 'Ah! it needs consideration, then? But come, now--would you rather be an old maid--let alone the pauper?' 'I can't tell till I'm asked.' And I left the room immediately, to escape further examination. But five minutes after, in looking from my window, I beheld Mr. Boarham coming up to the door. I waited nearly half-an-hour in uncomfortable suspense, expecting every minute to be called, and vainly longing to hear him go. Then footsteps were heard on the stairs, and my aunt entered the room with a solemn countenance, and closed the door behind her. 'Here is Mr. Boarham, Helen,' said she. 'He wishes to see you.' 'Oh, aunt!--Can't you tell him I'm indisposed?--I'm sure I am--to see him.' 'Nonsense, my dear! this is no trifling matter. He is come on a very important errand--to ask your hand in marriage of your uncle and me.' 'I hope my
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   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   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161   >>   >|  



Top keywords:
Wilmot
 

Huntingdon

 

matter

 

Boarham

 

coming

 
pauper
 
Wouldn
 

consideration

 
considered
 

wishes


closed

 

stairs

 
entered
 

solemn

 
countenance
 

indisposed

 
marriage
 
errand
 

important

 

Nonsense


trifling

 

footsteps

 

window

 

beheld

 

waited

 

minutes

 

escape

 

examination

 

called

 

vainly


longing

 
minute
 

fellow

 

uncomfortable

 

suspense

 
expecting
 

immediately

 
mayhap
 

previous

 
arrival

Continent
 

returned

 
public
 
greatly
 

friend

 

assiduous

 
paying
 

respects

 
possibly
 

occasional