CHAPTER XIX. THE LETTER

tain,Iwatchedhercountenancewhileshereadit,andwassomewhatsurprisedtoseeherbiteherlipandknitherbrowsasifinanger.Whenshehaddone,shesomewhatirreverentlycastitonthetable,sayingwithascornfulsmile,— “Yourgrandpapahasbeensokindastowritetome.HesayshehasnodoubtIhavelongrepentedofmy‘unfortunatemarriage,’andifIwillonlyacknowledgethis,andconfessIwaswronginneglectinghisadvice,andthatIhavejustlysufferedforit,hewillmakealadyofmeonceagain—ifthatbepossibleaftermylongdegradation—andremembermygirlsinhiswill.Getmydesk,Agnes,andsendthesethingsaway:Iwillanswertheletterdirectly.Butfirst,asImaybedeprivingyoubothofalegacy,itisjustthatIshouldtellyouwhatImeantosay.IshallsaythatheismistakeninsupposingthatIcanregretthebirthofmydaughters(whohavebeentheprideofmylife,andarelikelytobethecomfortofmyoldage),orthethirtyyearsIhavepassedinthecompanyofmybestanddearestfriend—that,hadourmisfortunesbeenthreetimesasgreatastheywere(unlesstheyhadbeenofmybringingon),Ishouldstillthemorerejoicetohavesharedthemwithyourfather,andadministeredwhatconsolationIwasableand,hadhissufferingsinilln