But, my dear, I did not know until
to-day that my poor daughter had a child, and it will take me just a
little time to get accustomed to the fact. Old men's brains do not act
as quickly as my young friend's here." As he said this he looked towards
Quincy. "But I am sure that we both of us owe to him a debt of gratitude
that it will be difficult for us ever to repay."
The old gentleman drew Linda towards him and folded her tenderly in his
arms. "Come, rest here, my dear one," said he; "your doubts and hopes,
your troubles and trials, and your wanderings are over." He kissed her
on the forehead, and Linda put her arms about his neck and laid her head
upon his breast.
"You are the only one united to me by near ties of blood in the world,"
Sir Stuart continued, and he laid his hand on Linda's head and turned
her face towards him. "You have your mother's eyes," he said. "We will
go back to England, and Fernborough Hall will have a mistress once more.
You are English born, and have a right to sit in that seat which might
have been your mother's but for the pride and prejudice which thirty
years ago ruled both your grandmother and myself.
Pages:
669
670
671
672
673
674
675
676
677
678
679
680
681
682
683
684
685
686
687
688
689
690
691
692
693