CHAPTER VII.



The wife of Henry had been dead near six weeks before the dean heard
the news. A month then elapsed in thoughts by himself, and
consultations with Lady Clementina, how he should conduct himself on
this occurrence. Her advice was,

"That, as Henry was the younger, and by their stations, in every
sense the dean's inferior, Henry ought first to make overtures of
reconciliation."

The dean answered, "He had no doubt of his brother's good will to
him, but that he had reason to think, from the knowledge of his
temper, he would be more likely to come to him upon an occasion to
bestow comfort, than to receive it. For instance, if I had suffered
the misfortune of losing your ladyship, my brother, I have no doubt,
would have forgotten his resentment, and--"

She was offended that the loss of the vulgar wife of Henry should be
compared to the loss of her--she lamented her indiscretion in
forming an alliance with a family of no rank, and implored the dean
to wait till his brother should make some concession to him, before
he renewed the acquaintance.

Though Lady Clementina had mentioned on this occasion her
INDISCRETION, she was of a prudent age--she was near forty--yet,
possessing rather a handsome face and person, she would not have
impressed the spectator with a supposition that she was near so old