"Well, Alley," said her mother, smiling, "is everything concluded
between you?"
"Yes, mamma," replied Alice, "everything is concluded, and finally,
too."
"Did he name the day?" said her father, smiling gravely.
Alice stared at him; then recollecting herself, she replied--
"I thought I told you both that this was a man I could never think
of marrying. I don't understand him; he is either very candid or very
hypocritical; and I feel it painful, and, besides, unnecessary in me to
take the trouble of balancing the character of a person who loses ground
in my opinion on every occasion I see him. Of course, I have discarded
him, and I know very well that his mother will cast fire and sword
between us as she did before; but to do Mr. Woodward justice, he
proposes to stand aloof from her resentments, and wishes to visit us as
usual."
"Then it's all over between you and him?" said her mother.
"It is; and I never gave you reason to anticipate any other result,
mamma."
"No, indeed," said her father, "you never did, Alice; but still I think
it is generous in him to separate himself from the resentments of that
woman, and as a friend we will be always glad to see him.
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