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92 Highly tenacious of preserving over the mind of Sir Aubrey an undisputed sway, Lady De Brooke had seen with great reluctance the ascendency his grand-daughters were acquiring, which she artfully hoped to repress by throwing discountenance on the visits of their father, and thus keep open that breach which, to all appearance, was about being repaired. By slight allusions relative to the fatigue his son's conversation gave him, and by an apparent disquietude on that account, her self-interested feelings lay concealed, leading Sir Aubrey to imagine that such sentiments and feelings towards him ever sprung from the strongest affection.

The severe treatment necessary to be resorted to under inflammatory cases, whilst it affords alleviation on the one hand, exhausts and impairs on the other; and thus with Sir Aubrey, contrary to the hopes maintained, in combating with his malady, it was evident his strength became daily weakened, insomuch that at length danger, in its most imminent degree, was apprehended. And yet, at such a crisis, known to her Ladyship, the son was sent from the father's door with the usual message, "My master, Sir, is too unwell to see any one."

"Is there no possibility of gaining admittance?" returned De Brooke. "Will you oblige me by going