“And this is the life you would choose for Lucy!” cried her mother. “Are you out of your senses, John? No kind husband for her, like what you have been to me; no children to climb about her--”
“Pshaw!” said Sir John. “As for the kind husband, that’s one of your pretty speeches, my lady, and you may be laughing at me, for anything I know; and children--to treat her as Arthur has treated you and me! Did we ever refuse the fellow anything in reason? No, I don’t say it would do, I only said I would tie her up if I could, if it had been practicable; and I believe it would have been a great blessing for all of us--for her too, if she could have thought so; but then I don’t suppose she would have thought so,” and, with a sigh, he walked away.
London: Printed by A. Schulze, 13, Poland Street.