" This did not
surprise me much for I had noticed with secret anxiety the growing
intimacy between Charley and my sister. "What shall I tell him, Walter,"
said my sister, "for I must not, dare not act without the counsel of my
only brother?" I looked up in my sister's face with all the affection
which welled up from my heart and said, "you love him then, Flora?" "How
can I help loving him, who is so gifted, so noble," was her reply.
"And," continued she, "on account of his reserved nature, I believe few
give him credit for the real goodness of heart he possesses." As Flora
had said, Charley possessed a kind heart, and was just and honorable in
every respect, but I trembled for the woman who placed her happiness in
his keeping; and how much more so, when that woman was my beloved and
only sister. "You do not answer me," said Flora; "mamma would give me no
reply till I had consulted you." "My dear sister," said I, "Charley is
all that you say, just, honorable and good; but with all this he has
qualities which, if not brought under subjection, will sadly mar his own
happiness and that of all who love him.
Pages:
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232