When he came, however, Mr. Goward's manners and appearance impressed me
favorably. Neither Ada nor Cyrus, as far as I could see, tried in the
least to draw him out. I sat quiet for a while, but at last for Peggy's
sake I felt I would do what I could to find out his views on important
things. I was considerably relieved to hear that his mother was a Van
Horn, a very good Troy family and distant connection of mother's.
When I asked him what he was, "My PEOPLE are Episcopalians," he replied.
"I suppose that means YOU are something else?" I asked him.
"I'm afraid it means I'm nothing else," he answered; and while I was
glad he was so honest, I couldn't help feeling anxious at having Peggy
engaged to a man so unformed in his beliefs. I do not care so much WHAT
people believe, for I am not bigoted, as that they should believe
SOMETHING, and that with their whole hearts. There are a great many
young men like Henry Goward, to-day, who have no fixed beliefs and no
established principles beyond a vague desire to be what they call
"decent fellows." One needs more than that in this world.
However, I found the boy likable, and everything went smoothly for a
time, when all at once I felt something had gone wrong--what, I didn't
know. Mr. Goward received a telegram and left suddenly. Ada, I could
see, was anxious; Peggy, tearful; and, as if this wasn't enough, Mrs.
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