Mother, I beg you to entertain no
implacable or inveterate enmity against her. I will stake my existence
that she never stooped to any fraudulent circumvention of my poor
uncle. Take my word for it, the intent and execution of the will must be
accounted for otherwise."
"Well and truly said, Harry," said his step-father--"well and generously
said; give me your hand,--my boy; thank you. Now, madam," he proceeded,
addressing his wife, "what have you to say to the opinion of a man who
has lost so much by the transaction, when you hear that that opinion is
given in her favor?"
"Indeed, my dear Harry," observed his sister, "she is all that you
have said of her, and much more, if you knew her as we do; she is all
disinterestedness and truth, and the most unselfish girl that ever
breathed."
Now, there were two persons present who paused upon hearing this
intelligence; one of whom listened to it with unexpected pleasure, and
the other with mingled emotions of pleasure and pain. The first of these
were Mrs. Lindsay, and the other her son Charles. Mrs. Lindsay, whose
eyes were not for a moment off her son, understood the significant
glance he had given her when he launched forth so heartily in the praise
of Alice Goodwin; neither did the same glance escape the observation of
his brother Charles, who inferred, naturally enough, from the warmth of
the eulogium that had been passed upon her, that she had made, perhaps,
too favorable an impression upon his brother.
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