Wentworth, desiring him to discontinue
his visits, as he could not sanction his attachment, nor consent to a
continuance of his attentions.

The letter was dispatched, and both parents felt better for the step.
They considered the thing as finally at an end; and though Pauline
might rebel a little at not having been consulted; yet it was done,
and they seemed to think it could not be undone.

Much they knew about the matter. A letter from the young lover to
Pauline herself, blew all these wise conclusions to the four winds of
heaven.

She protested--and with some show of reason--that her father and
mother had no right to dismiss Mr. Wentworth in this summary way; that
they had encouraged--certainly permitted his attentions; that her
mother had introduced him herself--for she harped upon that
string--and she poured forth such a torrent of words and tears at the
same time, that Mr. Grey finally said,

"Well, Pauline, to satisfy you, I will make inquiries relative to Mr.
Wentworth's character and standing, and should the report be
favorable, and your attachment lasting, I do not know that we should
have any right to refuse our consent, although it's not a match, my
child, that we can like. But on the other hand, Pauline, should I find
him unworthy of you, as I am inclined to believe he is, you, on your
part, must submit to what is inevitable, for I never will give my
consent to your marrying a man whose character is not irreproachable."

Partially appeased, Pauline retired to her room, where Mrs. Grey spent
the rest of the day in trying to convince Pauline that even if Mr.
Wentworth were respectable in point of character, he was not in mind,
manner, or appearance, at all her equal. That, in fact, he was a very
common sort of a person, which was the truth; but strange though the
fact might be, and there was no more accounting for it than denying
it, Pauline was desperately in love with this very same very common
young man; and talk as Mrs. Grey would, she could not change her
feelings, or make her see him with her eyes.

She could only wait the result of Mr. Grey's investigations; and most
devoutly she hoped they might prove unfavorable. The idea of his being
respectable enough for them to be forced to a consent, drove her
almost wild. Was this, then, to be the end of all her visions for her
beautiful Pauline!

She could only trust to his being a scamp as her only hope of escape.