Now I
have a son, which makes a difference. I cannot take Archie, or do very
much for him either. You know I have very little money of my own, and I
have no right to spend Lady Jane's."
Here the willowy figure near the window bent very low over the roses,
as if satisfied with the turn matters were taking, as John went on:
"As his uncle and guardian, I will see to him, of course, and will write
to our sister, asking her to do something for him. Perhaps she will
invite him to come to her in America, and if so, what are your wishes?
Shall I let him go?"
The invalid hesitated a moment, while his common sense fought with the
old hereditary pride of blood and birth, which would keep one in the
rank to which it had pleased God to call him, even if he starved there.
The latter gained the victory, and Hugh replied:
I would rather Archie should not go to America if there is any other
way. Betsey is very peculiar in her ideas, and would as soon apprentice
him to a shoemaker as anything else. In the last letter I received from
her, she advised me to put him to some trade, and to break stone myself
on the highway, rather than do nothing.
Pages:
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248