CHAPTER XXIII. THE PARK

hcare,manyadelicateinfanthasbecomeastrongmanorwoman.” “ButitmaygrowsointolerablylikeitsfatherthatIshallhateit.” “Thatisnotlikelyitisalittlegirl,andstronglyresemblesitsmother.” “NomatterIshouldlikeitbetterifitwereaboy—onlythatitsfatherwillleaveitnoinheritancethathecanpossiblysquanderaway.WhatpleasurecanIhaveinseeingagirlgrowuptoeclipseme,andenjoythosepleasuresthatIamforeverdebarredfrom?ButsupposingIcouldbesogenerousastotakedelightinthis,stillitisonlyachildandIcan’tcentreallmyhopesinachild:thatisonlyonedegreebetterthandevotingoneselftoadog.Andasforallthewisdomandgoodnessyouhavebeentryingtoinstilintome—thatisallveryrightandproper,Idaresay,andifIweresometwentyyearsolder,Imightfructifybyit:butpeoplemustenjoythemselveswhentheyareyoungandifotherswon’tletthem—why,theymusthatethemforit!” “Thebestwaytoenjoyyourselfistodowhatisrightandhatenobody.TheendofReligionisnottoteachushowtodie,buthowtoliveandtheearlieryoubecomewiseandgood,themoreofhappinessyousecure.Andnow,LadyAshby,Ihaveonemorepieceofadvicetoofferyou,whichis,thatyouwillnotmakeanenemyofyourmother-in-law.Don’tgetintothewayofholdingheratarms’length,andregardingherwithjealousdistrust.Ineversawher,butIhaveheardgoodaswellasevilrespectingherandIimaginethat,thoughcoldandhaughtyinhergenerald