The Heir of Redclyffe by Charlotte Mary Yonge
page 30 of 899 (03%)
page 30 of 899 (03%)
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my father's imagination.'
'For shame, Charlie.' 'Is it within the bounds of probability that he should be willing, at the bidding of his guardian, to adopt as Mentor his very correct and sententious cousin, a poor subaltern, and the next in the entail? Depend upon it, it is a fiction created either by papa's hopes or Philip's self-complacency, or else the unfortunate youth must have been brought very low by strait-lacing and milk-and-water.' 'Mr. Thorndale is willing to look up to Philip,' 'I don't think the Thorndale swan very--very much better than a tame goose,' said Charles, 'but the coalition is not so monstrous in his case, since Philip was a friend of his own picking and choosing, and so his father's adoption did not succeed in repelling him. But that Morville should receive this "young man's companion," on the word of a guardian whom he never set eyes on before, is too incredible--utterly mythical I assure you, Amy. And how did you get on at dinner?' 'Oh, the dog is the most delightful creature I ever saw, so sensible and well-mannered.' 'It was of the man that I asked.' 'He said hardly anything, and sometimes started if papa spoke to him suddenly. He winced as if he could not bear to be called Sir Guy, so papa said we should call him only by his name, if he would do the same by us. I am glad of it, for it seems more friendly, and I am sure he |
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