igns. He loved his child with deep tenderness, and,
as he said in the letter, this was the reason of his solicitude. It had
always been the secret pride of the Admiral's life that Gerald Bereford
should wed Lady Rosamond, but he kept his favorite plans closely guarded
until means were offered to aid him. Many times Sir Thomas fancied that
Gerald Bereford admired his lovely cousin, and had a faint hope in the
realization of his wishes. When the climax was reached, by those avowals
on the part of the suitor, the great joy of the solicitous parent knew
no bounds. He seemed to view the matter as one which would give entire
happiness to all parties. Lady Rosamond was to be congratulated on the
brilliant prospects of her future. The Bereford family were to be
congratulated on their securing such an acquisition as Lady Rosamond,
while Gerald Bereford was to be congratulated on having won the heart of
such a pure and lovable being as his future bride. All those
congratulations were in prospect before the mental vision of the Admiral
as he lovingly dwelt upon the matter.

From the effect thus produced upon Lady Rosamond it was certain she
viewed the matter in a different light. True, she had never, by thought
or action, been betrayed to show the least possible regard or preference
towards any of the many gallants from whom she oftentimes received many
flattering attentions.

Towards her cousin Gerald she had always been considerate and friendly.
When on several occasions he had taken particular pains to gratify her
slightest wish, and pay more deferential regard than was necessary to
the demands of their relationship, Lady Rosamond affected utter
ignorance of the cause by treating him with a familiarity that gave him
no opportunity to urge his suit.

When Sir Thomas gave consent to his daughter's reception in the family
of Sir Howard Douglas, it was in the firm belief that on her return her
mind would be matured to enter more fully upon plans relative to her
settlement in life. At the death of Sir Thomas the lands and estate of
Chesley Manor would be inherited by Frederick Seymour, the eldest son; a
smaller estate, bordering upon that of Lord Bereford, affording a
moderate income, went to the second son Geoffrey, while an annuity of
four thousand pounds had been settled upon Lady Rosamond, with a
marriage jointure of fifty thousand pounds, to be placed in the hands of
the trustees. By the marriage of Gerald Bereford and Lady R