"
"I know you don't feel what you say, uncle," she observed, "nor believe
it either."
"Not he, Maria," said her brother, awakening out of a reverie; "but,
uncle, as to Hycy Burke--I don't--hem."
"You don't what?" asked the other, rising and staring at him.
His nephew looked at his sister, and was silent.
"You don't mean what, man?--always speak out. Here, help me on with
this coat. Fethertonge and I are taking a ride up tomorrow as far as
Ahadarra."
"That's a man I don't like," said the nephew. "He's too soft and too
sweet, and speaks too low to be honest."
"Honest, you blockhead! Who says he's honest?" replied his uncle. "He's
as good a thing, however, an excellent man of the world that looks to
the main point, and--keeps up appearances. Take care of yourselves;"
and with these words, accompanied with a shrewd, knavish nod that was
peculiar to him, in giving which with expression he was a perfect adept,
he left them.
When he was gone, the brother and his sister looked at each, other, and
the latter said, "Can it be possible, Harry, that my uncle is serious in
all he says on this subject?"
Her brother, who paid more regard to the principles of his sister
than her uncle did, felt great reluctance in answering her in the
affirmative, so much so, indeed, that he resolved to stretch a little
for the sake of common decency.
Pages:
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227