"
"You are right, Mrs. Lindsay," said Goodwin, "in saying that few women
are worthy of your eldest son; he is a most gentlemanly, and evidently
a most accomplished young man; his conversation at breakfast here the
morning after the storm was so remarkable, both for good sense and good
feeling, that I am not surprised at your friendly visit today, Mrs.
Lindsay. He was sent, I hope, to introduce a spirit of peace and concord
between us, and God forbid that we should repel it; on the contrary,
we hail his mediation with delight, and feel deeply indebted to him for
placing both families in their original position."
"I trust in a better position," replied his adroit mother; "I trust in a
better position, Mr. Goodwin, and a still nearer and dearer connection.
It is better, however, to speak out; you know me of old, my dear
friends, and that I am blunt and straightforward--as the proverb has it,
'I think what I say, and I say what I think.' This visit, then, is made,
as I said, not only by my own wish, but at the express entreaty of my
son Harry, and the great delight of the whole family; there is therefore
no use in concealing the fact--he is deeply attached to your daughter,
Alice, and was from the first moment he saw her;--of course you now
understand my mission--which is, in fact, to make a proposal of marriage
in his name, and to entreat your favorable consideration of it, as well
as your influence in his behalf with Alice herself.
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