To say truth, I did not expect to find
him either so well read or so deeply interested in the subject.'
'Was he angry when it was proposed that he should vacate the guardianship?'
'Not at all. Contrariwise, he said he had at first been so minded himself.
His years, his habits, and something of the unfitness of the situation, the
remoteness of Bartram-Haugh from good teachers, and all that, had struck
him, and nearly determined him against accepting the office. But then came
the views which I stated in my letter, and they governed him; and nothing
could shake them, he said, or induce him to re-open the question in his own
mind.'
All the time Doctor Bryerly was relating his conference with the head of
the family at Bartram-Haugh my cousin commented on the narrative with a
variety of little 'pishes' and sneers, which I thought showed more of
vexation than contempt.
I was glad to hear all that Doctor Bryerly related. It gave me a kind
of confidence; and I experienced a momentary reaction. After all, could
Bartram-Haugh be more lonely than I had found Knowl? Was I not sure of the
society of my Cousin Millicent, who was about my own age? Was it not quite
possible that my sojourn in Derbyshire might turn out a happy though very
quiet remembrance through all my after-life? Why should it not? What time
or place would be happy if we gave ourselves over to dismal imaginations?
So the summons reached me from Uncle Silas.
Pages:
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325