She loved all that was beautiful, and, as so frequently happens in
such natures as Angela's, she had an overwhelming pity for all that
were unhappy. To her God made the world beautiful: man was
responsible for its hideousness. From her heart she pitied mankind
for abusing the gifts God had showered on them.
It was on her first home-coming since her mother's death that her
attention was really drawn to her father's Irish possessions.
By a curious coincidence she returned home the clay following
Wilberforce Kingsnorth's electrical speech, invoking Providence to
interpose in the settlement of the Irish difficulty. It was the one
topic of conversation throughout dinner. And it was during that
dinner that Angela for the first time really angered her father and
raised a barrier between them that lasted until the day of his
death.
The old man had laughed coarsely at the remembrance of his speech on
the previous night, and licked his lips at the thought of it.
Monica, who was visiting her father for a few days smiled in
agreeable sympathy.
Nathaniel nodded cheerfully.
From her father's side Angela asked quietly:
"Have you ever been in Ireland, father?"
"No, I have not," answered the old man sharply: "And, what is more,
I never intend to go there"
"Do you know anything about, the Irish?" persisted Angela.
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