United States or Cameroon ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Wilson, appearing and this was natural enough to know of my intimacy with the Whig gentleman. I was cautious in my replies, and he learned, I think, but little. It was a pity, he said, that my father would not visit Wyncote. It seemed to me that he dwelt overmuch on this matter, and my aunt, who greatly fancied him, was also of this opinion.
She had a pretty picture to show me of Wyncote, and the present man was to be made a baronet. Can a good girl be captured by such things? But the man has some charm, Hugh. These black men" so we called those of dark complexion "are always dangerous, and this special devil has a tongue, and can use it well." I listened to my aunt, but said little. What chance had I to make Darthea credit me?
"That is true," said I; "and, if my father will pardon me, I like still to say that I would have Wyncote to-day if I could." "Thou canst not," said my father. "And what we cannot have what God has willed that we shall not have it were wise and well to forget. It is my affair, and none of thine. Wilt thou taste some of my newly come Madeira, Friend Tarleton?"
He said it was the reconveyance of Wyncote to my grandfather; and with entirely clear language, and no fault of thought that I could observe, he stated that at need he would execute a proper title to Godfrey, the present man. I was struck dumb with astonishment and pity. Here was a man acting within a world of delusion as to who I was, and with as much competence as ever in his best days.
If I had died he had become assured, not only of the possession of Wyncote, but of being ultimately my father's heir. Of this Jack writes: "Here was a whole brigade of temptations, and he could not stand it. He would have broken that tender heart I loved. God help me! I think I should have killed him before he had the cruel chance."
My father fights cocks and dogs, rides to hounds, and, I grieve to say, drinks hard, like all our Welsh squires." I was surprised at Ms frank statement. My mother watched him curiously, with those attentive blue eyes, as my father returned; "Of a certainty, thou dost not add to my inducements to visit Wyncote. I should, I fear, be sadly out of place."
Did I ever hear from Wyncote, and how was William? I made sure he had once again taken me for my cousin. I found it was vain to insist upon my being his son. For a moment he would seem puzzled, and would then call me Arthur. At last, when he became vexed, and said angrily that I was behaving worse than Hugh, I recalled Dr. Rush's advice, and humouring his delusion, said, "Uncle, let me help you."
"My aunt thinks Wyncote belongs to us. There is an old deed, and my aunt will have it we must go to law over it. It is a doubtful matter, Darthea as to the right, I mean. I have no wish to stir it up, nor to leave my own land if we were to win it." I saw Darthea flush, and in a moment she was at my aunt's side. "Stop!" said I. "Remember, dear, I have not hid it from you.
The anger between England and ourselves makes all things in Great Britain seem hateful to you, to me, to all honest colonials; but this will not last. Peace will come one day or another, and when it does, to be Wynne of Wyncote " "Good gracious, Aunt Gainor! let us set this aside.
He would not fight you, because that would put an end to his relations with your father. Clerk Mason tells me he has already borrowed two hundred pounds of my brother. So far I can see," she went on; "the rest is dark that about Wyncote, I mean. Darthea, when once she is away, begins to criticise him. In a word, Hugh, I think he has reason to be jealous." "O Aunt Gainor!" "Yes.
Word Of The Day