You will have your share on your wedding-day (and
Norah will have hers when she marries) from my own hand, if I live; and
under my will if I die. There! there! no gloomy faces," he said, with a
momentary return of his every-day good spirits. "Your mother and I mean
to live and see Frank a great merchant. I shall leave you, my dear,
to enlighten the son on our new projects, while I walk over to the
cottage--"
He stopped; his eyebrows contra cted a little; and he looked aside
hesitatingly at Mrs. Vanstone.
"What must you do at the cottage, papa?" asked Magdalen, after having
vainly waited for him to finish the sentence of his own accord.
"I must consult Frank's father," he replied. "We must not forget that
Mr. Clare's consent is still wanting to settle this matter. And as
time presses, and we don't know what difficulties he may not raise, the
sooner I see him the better."
He gave that answer in low, altered tones; and rose from his chair in
a half-reluctant, half-resigned manner, which Magdalen observed with
secret alarm.
She glanced inquiringly at her mother. To all appearance, Mrs. Vanstone
had been alarmed by the change in him also. She looked anxious and
uneasy; she turned her face away on the sofa pillow--turned it
suddenly, as if she was in pain.
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