"
"Dutiful youth! what a treasure you will prove to a dignified and
gentlemanly parent,--to a fond and doting wife! Shall I however put
forth my powers? Shall Hycy the accomplished interpose between Juno and
the calf? What sayest thou, my most amiable maternal relative, and why
sittest thou so silent and so sad?"
"Indeed, it's no wondher I would, Hycy," replied his mother, whom
Edward's return had cast into complete dejection, "when I see your
father strivin' to put between his own childre'."
"Me, Rosha!" exclaimed her husband; "God forgive you for that! but when
I see that one of my childre' wont spake a word to me with respect or
civility--no, not even in his natural voice, it is surely time for ma to
try if I can't find affection in his brother."
"Ay," said she, "that's your own way of it; but it's easy seen that your
eggin' up Ned agin his brother, bringin' ill will and bad feelin' among
a family that was quiet before; ay, an' I suppose you'd be glad to see
my heart broke too, and indeed I didn't care it was," and as she spoke
the words? were accompanied by sobbings and tears.
"Alas!" said Hyoy, still in the mock heroic--"where is the pride and
dignity of woman? Remember, oh maternal relative, that you are the
mother of one Gracchus at least! Scorn the hydraulics, I say; abandon
the pathetic; cast sorrow to the winds, and--give me another cup of
tea.
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