CHAPTER II

Mr.WestonwasanativeofHighbury,andbornofarespectablefamily,whichforthelasttwoorthreegenerationshadbeenrisingintogentilityandproperty.Hehadreceivedagoodeducation,but,onsucceedingearlyinlifetoasmallindependence,hadbecomeindisposedforanyofthemorehomelypursuitsinwhichhisbrotherswereengaged,andhadsatisfiedanactive,cheerfulmindandsocialtemperbyenteringintothemilitiaofhiscounty,thenembodied. CaptainWestonwasageneralfavouriteandwhenthechancesofhismilitarylifehadintroducedhimtoMissChurchill,ofagreatYorkshirefamily,andMissChurchillfellinlovewithhim,nobodywassurprized,exceptherbrotherandhiswife,whohadneverseenhim,andwhowerefullofprideandimportance,whichtheconnexionwouldoffend. MissChurchill,however,beingofage,andwiththefullcommandofherfortune—thoughherfortuneborenoproportiontothefamily-estate—wasnottobedissuadedfromthemarriage,andittookplace,totheinfinitemortificationofMr.andMrs.Churchill,whothrewheroffwithduedecorum.Itwasanunsuitableconnexion,anddidnotproducemuchhappiness.Mrs.Westonoughttohavefoundmoreinit,forshehadahusbandwhosewarmheartandsweettempermadehimthinkeverythingduetoherinreturnforthegreatgoodnessofbeinginlovewithhimbutthoughshehadonesortofspirit,shehadnotthebest.Shehadresolutionenoughtopursueherownwillinspiteofherbrother,butnotenoughtorefrainfromunreasonableregretsatthatbrother’sunreasonableanger,norfrommissingtheluxuriesofherformerhome.Theylivedbeyondtheirincome,butstillitwasnothingincomparisonofEnscombe:shedidnotceasetoloveherhusband,butshewantedatoncetobethewifeofCaptainWeston,andMissChurchillofEnscombe. CaptainWeston,whohadbeenconsidered,especiallybytheChurchills,asmakingsuchanamazingmatch,w