Does he
court you?"
"I don't know, papa. I suppose he does."
"Does he seek your love?"
"He does not say so exactly."
"Come, Mary, you have never deceived me. Does he love you?"
"I am afraid he does; and if you reject him he will be very unhappy. And
so shall I."
"I am truly sorry to hear it, Mary, for there are reasons why I can not
consent to an engagement between him and you."
"What reasons, papa?"
"It would not be proper to disclose my reasons; but I hope, Mary, that it
will be enough to say that Colonel Clifford has other views for his son,
and I have other views for my daughter. Do you think a blessing will
attend you or him if you defy both fathers?"
"No, no," said poor Mary. "We have been hasty and very foolish. But, oh,
papa, have you not seen from the first? Oh, why did you not warn me in
time? Then I could have obeyed you easily. Now it will cost me the
happiness of my life. We are very unfortunate. Poor Walter! He left me so
full of hope. What shall I do? what shall I do?"
It was Mary Bartley's first grief.
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