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awareofherunhappiness!thatitwasmyobjecttomakemyownchildmiserable,andthatIhadforbiddenherspeakingtoyouonthesubjectfromafearofyourinterruptingthediabolicalscheme?Doyouthinkmedestituteofeveryhonest,everynaturalfeeling?AmIcapableofconsigninghertoeverlastingmiserywhosewelfareitismyfirstearthlydutytopromote?Theideaishorrible!”“What,then,wasyourintentionwhenyouinsistedonhersilence?”“Ofwhatuse,mydearsister,couldbeanyapplicationtoyou,howevertheaffairmightstand?WhyshouldIsubjectyoutoentreatieswhichIrefusedtoattendtomyself?Neitherforyoursakenorforhers,norformyown,couldsuchathingbedesirable.WhenmyownresolutionwastakenIcouldnotwishfortheinterference,howeverfriendly,ofanotherperson.Iwasmistaken,itistrue,butIbelievedmyselfright.”“Butwhatwasthismistaketowhichyourladyshipsooftenalludes?fromwhencearosesoastonishingamisconceptionofyourdaughter’sfeelings?DidyounotknowthatshedislikedSirJames?”“Iknewthathewasnotabsolutelythemanshewouldhavechosen,butIwaspersuadedthatherobjectionstohimdidnotarisefromanyperceptionofhisdeficiency.Youmustnotquestionme,however,mydearsister,toominutelyonthispoint,”continuedshe,takingmeaffectionatelybythehand“Ihonestlyownthatthereissomethingtoconceal.Fredericamakesmeveryunhappy!HerapplyingtoMr.DeCourcyhurtmeparticularly.”“Whatisityoumeantoinfer,”saidI,“bythisappearanceofmystery?IfyouthinkyourdaughteratallattachedtoReginald,herobjectingtoSirJamescouldnotlessdeservetobeattendedtothanifthecauseofherobjectinghadbeenaconsciousnessofhisfollyandwhyshouldyourladyship,atanyrate,quarrelwithmybrotherforaninterferencewhich,youmustknow,itisnotinhisnaturetorefusewhenurgedinsuchamanner?” “Hisdisposition,youknow,iswarm,andhecametoexpostulatewithmehiscompassionallaliveforthisill-usedgirl,thisheroineindistress!Wemisunderstoodeachother:hebelievedmemoretoblamethanIreallywasIconsideredhisinterferencelessexcusablethanInowfindit.Ihavearealregardforhim,andwasbeyondexpressionmortifiedtofindit,asIthought,soillbestowed.Wewerebothwarm,andofcoursebothtoblame.HisresolutionofleavingChurchhillisconsistentwithhisgeneraleage