Page:The Mysterious Warning - Parsons (1796, volume 1).djvu/24

 of health and life, as we can no more answer for our own hearts than for our own lives, as it is possible Count Rhodophil may marry, and new engagements may give birth to new sentiments; all these natural occurrences may happen, and both for your children's sake, and for his honour, it would be better to place a circumstance, of so much consequence to your family, beyond the power of chance to injure them."

"I own (said Ferdinand, after pausing a few minutes) I own what you say is both wise and prudent; but such a proposition as relates to any settlement must originate with my brother.—No selfish proposals, no narrowness of heart, shall mark my conduct, or render me less generous than himself."

Ernest sighed, but was silent.—The other observing his dejection, added: "You know, my old friend, that Rhodophil's mother was a woman of very superior birth, with a much larger fortune than my mother could boast,