John is very fond of her, and the only objection
is, that it would require a person of more age and weight to deal
with Algernon.'
'Never mind speeches,' sighed Albinia; 'we know too well that nothing
could be worse for either. Can't you give him a tutor and send him
to travel.'
'I'll talk to John; but unluckily he is of age next month, and
there's an end of our power. And John would never keep him away from
hence, for he thinks it his only chance.'
'I suppose we must do something with Lucy. Heigh-ho! People used
not to be always falling in love in my time, except Fred, and that
was in a rational way; that could be got rid of!'
The effect of the intelligence on the vicar was to make him set out
at once to the livery-stables in quest of his nephew, but he found
that the young gentleman had that morning started for London, whither
he proposed to follow him on the Monday. Lucy cried incessantly, in
the fear that the gentle-hearted vicar might have some truculent
intentions towards his nephew, and was so languid and unhappy that no
one had the heart to scold her; and comforting her was still more
impossible.
Mr. Kendal used to stride away from the sight of her swollen eyes,
and ask Albinia why she did not tell her that the only good thing
that could happen to her would be, that she should never see nor hear
of the fellow again.
Why he did not tell her so himself was a different question.
Pages:
542
543
544
545
546
547
548
549
550
551
552
553
554
555
556
557
558
559
560
561
562
563
564
565
566