Here my mother walked about the room in considerable agitation; but she soon recovered herself.
"I then related to him our conversation with Lady Helen."
"And did you tell him how I defended him?" cried I.
"No, certainly I did not," she coldly replied; "but I convinced him that his mother gave me back my promise, and that her last parting words to yourself should be, 'Helen, never marry an immoral man.' On hearing this, he exclaimed—
"'Did my mother say this? Did she think me an immoral man? Oh! insupportable agony! Well, madam,' added he, turning fiercely round, 'and so I suppose you have said the same to your daughter, and have engaged her to combat the regard she once felt for me; for I know she loved me once, or would have done so, for so the lips that never deceived assured me: but mark me, madam, I will not take a refusal from any lips but hers.'
"'If you wish to alienate my affection entirely from you, Seymour,' I replied, 'you will make this appeal to Helen; for neither by letter nor personal application will I sanction it, till I am convinced your improved conduct makes you more worthy of my daughter.'
"'But you deny me the motive to improvement, by forbidding my addresses to her.'
"'O Seymour!' answered I, 'if you have no better motive, such a change is not to be depended upon; nor would I entrust to you, under such a precarious alteration, the happiness of my child.'
"He looked distressed, but rather proudly replied—
"'Well, madam, we will talk further on this subject some other time. I cannot pursue it now.' And soon after I took my leave."