Page:Edgar Huntly, or The Sleep Walker.djvu/63

 scheme: it is strange that you should suppose me so careless an observer as not to note, or not to understand, your situation: I am as well acquainted with what is passing in your heart as you yourself are; but why are you so anxious to conceal it? You know less of the adventurousness of love than I should have suspected: but I will not trifle with your feelings. You, Clithero, know the wishes that I once cherished: I had hoped that my son would have found, in this darling child, an object worthy of his choice, and that my girl would have preferred him to all others; but I have long since discovered that this could not be—they are nowise suited to each other. There is one thing, in the next place, desirable, and now my wishes are accomplished: I see that you love each other; and never, in my opinion, was a passion more rational and just: I should think myself the worst of beings if I did not contribute all in my power to your happiness. There is not the shadow of objection to your union: I know your scruples, Clithero, and am sorry to see that you harbour them for a moment; nothing is more unworthy of your good sense. I found out this girl long ago: take my word for it, young man, she does not fall short of you in the purity and tenderness of her attachment. What need is there of tedious preliminaries? I will leave you together, and hope you will not be long in coming to a mutual understanding: your union cannot be completed too soon for my wishes. Clarice is my only and darling daughter. As to you, Clithero, expect henceforth that treatment from me, not only to which your own merit entitles you, but which is due to the husband of my daughter.'

"With these words she retired, and left us together.

"Great God! deliver me from the torments of this remembrance! That a being, by whom I was snatched from penury and brutal ignorance, exalted to some rank in the intelligent creation, reared to affluence and honour, and thus, at last, spontaneously endowed with all that remained to complete the sum of my felicity—that a being like this—but such thoughts must not yet be—I must shut them out, or I shall never arrive at the end of my tale. My efforts have been thus far successful; I have hitherto been