Montfort Court (which passed to the new heir) for the distant jointure
House of Twickenham. By this time she had grown so attached to Sophy,
and Sophy so gratefully fond of her, that she proposed to Waife to take
his sweet grandchild as her permanent companion, complete her education,
and assure her future. This had been the old man's cherished day-dream;
but he had not contemplated its realisation until he himself were in the
grave. He turned pale, he staggered, when the proposal which would
separate him from his grandchild was first brought before him. But he
recovered ere Lady Montfort could be aware of the acuteness of the pang
she inflicted, and accepted the generous offer with warm protestations of
joy and gratitude. But Sophy! Sophy consent to leave her grandfather
afar and aged in his solitary cottage! Little did either of them know
Sophy, with her soft heart and determined soul, if they supposed such
egotism possible in her. Waife insisted--Waife was angry--Waife was
authoritative--Waife was imploring--Waife was pathetic--all in vain! But
to close every argument, the girl went boldly to Lady Montfort, and said:
"If I left him, his heart would break--never ask it." Lady Montfort
kissed Sophy tenderly as mother ever kissed a child for some sweet loving
trait of a noble nature, and said simply "But he shall not be left--he
shall come too."

She offered Waife rooms in her Twickenham house--she wished to collect
books--he should be librarian. The old man shivered and refused--refused
firmly. He had made a vow not to be a guest in any house. Finally, the
matter was compromised; Waife would remove to the neighbourhood of
Twickenham; there hire a cottage; there ply his art; and Sophy, living
with him, should spend part of each day with Lady Montfort as now.

So it was resolved. Waife consented to occupy a small house on the verge
of the grounds belonging to the jointure villa, on the condition of