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Page 45
Mrs. Sandal hardly perceived the growth of this domestic antagonism.
When Harry was at Seat-Sandal, she lived and moved and had her being in
Harry. His food and drink, and the multitude of his small comforts; his
friends and amusements; the renovation of his linen and hosiery; his
hopes and fears, and his promotion or marriage, were enough to fill the
mother's heart. She was by no means oblivious of Sophia's new interests,
she only thought that they could be put aside until Harry's short visit
was over; and Charlotte's sympathies were also with Harry. "Julius and
Sophia do not want them, mother," she said, "they are sufficient unto
themselves. If I enter a room pre-occupied by them, Sophia sits silent
over her work, with a look of injury on her face; and Julius walks
about, and kicks the stools out of his way, and simply 'looks' me out of
their presence."
After such an expulsion one morning, she put on her bonnet and mantle,
and went into the park. She was hot and trembling with anger, and her
eyes were misty with tears. In the main walk she met Harry. He was
smoking, and pacing slowly up and down under the bare branches of the
oaks. For a moment he also seemed annoyed at her intrusion on his
solitude; but the next one he had tucked her arm through his own, and
was looking with brotherly sympathy into her flushed and troubled face.
This morning Charlotte felt it to be a great comfort to complain to him,
to even cry a little over the breaking of the family bond, and the loss
of her sister's affection.
"I have always been so proud of Sophia, always given up to her in every
thing. When grandmother showed me the sapphire necklace, and said she
was going to leave it to me because she loved me best, I begged her not
to slight Sophia in such a way as that,--Sophia being the elder, you
know, Harry. I cried about it until she was almost angry with me. Julius
offered his hand to me first; and though I claim no merit for giving up
what I do not want, yet, all the same, if I had wanted him I should
have refused, because I saw that Sophia had set her heart upon him. I
should indeed, Harry."
"I believe you would, Charlotte."
"And somehow Julius manages to give me the feeling that I am only in
Seat-Sandal on his tolerance. Many a time a day I have to tell myself
that father is still alive, and that I have a right in my own home. I do
not know how he manages to make me feel so."
"In the same way that he conveys to me the impression that I shall never
be squire of Sandal-Side. He has doomed me to death in his own mind; and
I believe if I had to live with him, I should feel constrained to go and
shoot myself."
"I would come home, and get married, Harry. There will be room enough
and welcome enough for your wife in Seat-Sandal, especially if she be
Emily."
"She will not be Emily; for I love some one else far away
better,--millions of times better than I love Emily."
"I am so glad, Harry. Have you told father?"
"Not yet. I do not think he will be glad, Charlotte."
"But why?"
"There are many reasons."
"Such as?"
"She is poor."
"Oh! that is bad, Harry; because I know that we are not rich. But she is
not your inferior? I mean she is not uneducated or unladylike?"
"She is highly educated, and in all England there is not a more perfect
lady."
"Then I can see no reason to think father will not be pleased. I am
sure, Harry, that I shall love your wife. Oh, yes! I shall love her very
dearly."
Then Harry pressed her arm close to his side, and looked lovingly down
into her bright, earnest face. There was no need of speech. In a glance
their souls touched each other.
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