Burke; the fatal no must be pronounced,
and in connection with forever too; and unless you have much virtue
to sustain you, I fear you run a great risk of dying a martyr to a
negative. I would fain hope, however, that the virtue I allude to, and
your well-known sense of religion, will support you under such a trial."
This was uttered in a tone of grave ironical sympathy that not only gave
it peculiar severity, but intimated to Hycy that his character was fully
understood.
"Well, Miss Clinton," said he, rising with a countenance in which there
was a considerable struggle between self-conceit and mortification, a
struggle which in fact was exceedingly ludicrous in its effect, "I must
only hope that you probably may change your mind."
"Mr. Burke," said she, with a grave and serious dignity that was
designed to terminate the interview, "there are subjects upon which a
girl of delicacy and principle never can change her mind, and this I
feel obliged to say, once for all, is one of them. I am now my uncle's
housekeeper," she added, taking up a bunch of keys, "and you must permit
me to wish you a good morning," saying which, with a cool but very
polite inclination of her head, she dismissed Hycy the accomplished, who
cut anything but a dignified figure as he withdrew.
"Well," said her brother, who was reading a newspaper in the parlor, "is
the report favorable?"
"No," replied Hycy, "anything but favorable.
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