Last, not least, he didn't
even deserve to marry a woman old enough to be his grandmother--and he
has done it! Not five minutes since I sent his wedding-cards out to the
dust-hole, and tossed the letter that came with them into the fire. The
last piece of information which that letter contains is that he and his
wife are looking out for a house and estate to suit them. Mark my words!
Frank will get one of the best estates in England; a seat in the House
of Commons will follow as a matter of course; and one of the legislators
of this Ass-ridden country will be--MY LOUT!
"If you are the sensible girl I have always taken you for, you have long
since learned to rate Frank at his true value, and the news I send you
will only confirm your contempt for him. I wish your poor father could
but have lived to see this day! Often as I have missed my old gossip, I
don't know that I ever felt the loss of him so keenly as I felt it
when Frank's wedding-cards and Frank's letter came to this house. Your
friend, if you ever want one,
"FRANCIS CLARE, Sen."
With one momentary disturbance of her composure, produced by the
appearance of Kirke's name in Mr. Clare's singular narrative, Magdalen
read the letter steadily through from beginning to end.
Pages:
1179
1180
1181
1182
1183
1184
1185
1186
1187
1188
1189
1190
1191
1192
1193
1194
1195
1196
1197
1198
1199
1200
1201
1202
1203