"I am sorry, sir," replied that gentleman, "that you should think it
necessary to apply the word imposture to any' proceeding of mine. You
ought to know my mother's outspoken way, and that her heart is kinder
than her language. The fact is, from the first moment I saw that
beautiful girl I felt a warm interest in her, and I feel that interest
increasing every day. I certainly am very anxious to secure her for her
own sake, whilst I candidly admit that I am not wholly indifferent to
the property. I am only a common man like others, and not above the
world and its influences--who can be that lives in it? My mother,
besides, will come to think better of Alice, and all of them, when she
shall be enabled to call Alice daughter; won't you, mother?"
The mother, who knew by the sentiments which he had expressed to her
before on this subject, that he was now playing a game with the
family, did not consider it prudent to contradict him; she consequently
replied,--
"I don't know, Harry; I cannot get their trick about the property out
of my heart; but, perhaps, if I saw it once more where it ought to be, I
might change.
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