The original Meadows character, and Bayford breeding, had for a time
been surmounted by Albinia's influence and training; but so ingrain
was the old disposition, that a touch would at once re-awaken it, and
the poor girl was in a neutral state, coloured by whichever
impression had been most recent. Albinia's hopes of prevailing in
the end increased when Mrs. Dusautoy told her, with a look of
intelligence, that Algernon was going to stay with a connexion of his
mother, a Mr. Greenaway, with six daughters, very stylish young
ladies.
Six stylish young ladies! Albinia could have embraced them all, and
actually conferred a cordial nod on Mr. Cavendish Dusautoy when she
met him on the way home.
But as she entered the house, so ominous a tone summoned her to the
library, that she needed not to be told that Mr. Cavendish Dusautoy
had been there.
'I told him,' said Mr. Kendal, 'that he was too young for me to
entertain his proposal, and I intimated that he had character to
redeem before presenting himself in such capacity.'
'I hope you made the refusal evident to his intellect.'
'He drove me to be more explicit than I intended. I think he was
astonished. He stared at me for full three minutes before he could
believe in the refusal. Poor lad, it must be real attachment, there
could be no other inducement.'
'And Lucy is exceedingly pretty.'
Mr. Kendal glanced at the portrait over the mantelpiece smiled sadly,
and shook his head.
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