Page:Romance & Reality 3.pdf/112

110, you will be able to pay them in 'good set terms.'" How very unpleasant a few words can contrive to be! It was very disagreeable to be reminded of his cousin. Though Mr. Morland was the last man in the world to have acted on such a wish, Cecil was aware of his uncle's desire to see his favourite nephew and his daughter united. Now, for his very life could he picture Helen but as he last saw her—a very pretty child, whose canary was an important object. It was also very disagreeable to perceive that Lady Mandeville was not in his interests, aware as he was of her influence over Emily. For, what with a little absence—an absence passed in solitude and exaggeration—and a little opposition, enough to excite, but not enough to deter—an adventure romantic enough to make falling in love almost matter of necessity—with all these together, young Spenser had progressed considerably in his attachment. Emily was very pretty, with a quiet gentleness that left much to the imagination, and also a sweetness which was a good beginning for it to work upon. Besides, though attached to Lorraine with all the depth and earnestness