XXII

stmakethembothinmyeyes,Ifeltbynomeansassuredthatsuchmightnotbetheconsequence.ItistruethatReginaldhadnotinanydegreegrowncooltowardsmebutyethehaslatelymentionedFredericaspontaneouslyandunnecessarily,andoncesaidsomethinginpraiseofherperson.Hewasallastonishmentattheappearanceofmyvisitor,andatfirstobservedSirJameswithanattentionwhichIwaspleasedtoseenotunmixedwithjealousybutunluckilyitwasimpossibleformereallytotormenthim,asSirJames,thoughextremelygallanttome,verysoonmadethewholepartyunderstandthathisheartwasdevotedtomydaughter.IhadnogreatdifficultyinconvincingDeCourcy,whenwewerealone,thatIwasperfectlyjustified,allthingsconsidered,indesiringthematchandthewholebusinessseemedmostcomfortablyarranged.TheycouldnoneofthemhelpperceivingthatSirJameswasnoSolomonbutIhadpositivelyforbiddenFredericacomplainingtoCharlesVernonorhiswife,andtheyhadthereforenopretenceforinterferencethoughmyimpertinentsister,Ibelieve,wantedonlyopportunityfordoingso.Everything,however,wasgoingo