He loved her very dearly, and would willingly make her his wife, he
thought or said at such moments; but-- Such moments, however, were
only moments. A man in love seldom loves less because his love
becomes difficult. And thus, when those moments were over, he would
determine to tell his mother at once, and urge her to signify her
consent to Miss Robarts. That she would not be quite pleased he knew;
but if he were firm enough to show that he had a will of his own in
this matter, she would probably not gainsay him. He would not ask
this humbly, as a favour, but request her ladyship to go through the
ceremony as though it were one of those motherly duties which she as
a good mother could not hesitate to perform on behalf of her son.
Such was the final resolve with which he reached his chambers in the
Albany. On the next day he did not see his mother. It would be well,
he thought, to have his interview with her immediately before he
started for Norway, so that there might be no repetition of it; and
it was on the day before he did start that he made his communication,
having invited himself to breakfast in Brook Street on the occasion.
"Mother," he said, quite abruptly, throwing himself into one of the
dining-room arm-chairs, "I have a thing to tell you.
Pages:
582
583
584
585
586
587
588
589
590
591
592
593
594
595
596
597
598
599
600
601
602
603
604
605
606