And, as my father became less able to exert himself, Torwood came
forward more, and was something substantial to lean upon. Dear
fellow! I am sure he did well earn the consent he gained at last,
though not with much satisfaction, from papa.

Emily had grown into great sweetness and grace, and Mrs. Deerhurst
had gone on very well. Of course, people were unkind enough to say,
it was only because she had such prey in view as Lord Torwood; but,
whatever withheld her, it is certain that Emily only had the most
suitable and reasonable pleasures for a young lady, and was
altogether as nice, and gentle, and sensible, as could be desired.
There never was a bit of acting in her, she was only allowed to grow
in what seemed natural to her. She was just one of the nice simple
girls of that day, doing her quiet bit of solid reading, and her
practice, and her neat little smooth pencil drawing from a print, as
a kind of duty to her accomplishments every day; and filling books
with neat up-and-down MS. copies of all the poetry that pleased her.
Dainty in all her ways, timid, submissive, and as it seemed to me,
colourless.

But Fulk taught her Wordsworth, who was his great passion then, and
found her a perfect listener to all his Tory hopes, fears, and
usages.

Papa could not help liking her when she came to stay with us, after
they were engaged, at the end of two years. He allowed that, away
from her mother and all her belongings, she would do very well; and
she was so pretty and sweet in her respectful fear of him--I might
almost say awe--that his graceful, chivalrous courtesy woke up again;
and he was beginning absolutely to enjoy her, as she became a little