"
"You have put your side of the question, admiral," said George
resolutely; "now let me put mine. A certain impression is produced on me
by a young lady whom I meet with under very interesting circumstances.
I don't act headlong on that impression, as I might have done if I had
been some years younger; I wait, and put it to the trial. Every time I
see this young lady the impression strengthens; her beauty grows on me,
her character grows on me; when I am away from her, I am restless and
dissatisfied; when I am with her, I am the happiest man alive. All I
hear of her conduct from those who know her best more than confirms the
high opinion I have formed of her. The one drawback I can discover is
caused by a misfortune for which she is not responsible--the
misfortune of having a sister who is utterly unworthy of her. Does this
discovery--an unpleasant discovery, I grant you--destroy all those good
qualities in Miss Vanstone for which I love and admire her? Nothing of
the sort--it only makes her good qualities all the more precious to me
by contrast. If I am to have a drawback to contend with--and who
expects anything else in this world?--I would infinitely rather have the
drawback attached to my wife's sister than to my wife.
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