“That’s the woman’s way of showing a thing is right; but why I can’t see. If you did hate me, it might be all very well to throw me over; but if not, why torture two as well as one? Are you afraid of my people? I’ll manage them.”
“You little know—”
“Know what?”
“All that made it cruel in Camilla to throw us together.”
“Cruel! when it was the crowning joy of my past life, and is to be the crowning joy of the future?”
“How can it? Frank, you must know the causes your mother has for abhorring any connection with our unhappy family.”
“My mother has too much sense to think a little extravagance among the men of a family can affect the daughters. I know the outer world is afraid of her, but she is the tenderest and most indulgent of mothers to us. No fear of her!”
“Ah! but that’s not all.”
“You mean that she has not taken much to your sister. I know; and I’m very sorry; but bring them together, and it would soon be got over. Besides, it is not your sister, but you. What do you mean?” rather disconcerted.
“Then you really did not know of the old engagement between Camilla and your eldest brother?”