THE LEGEND OF THE ABBEY TOWER. 137 



taken a somewhat strange direction — that you have exhibited, in 

 short, a kind of penchant for — what's-her-name, Jenkins, the attor- 

 ney's daughter ! " 



A "lame,** but most pleasant "conclusion," was this to the 

 alarmed Baldwin, who fancied his contemptuousnesss would have 

 settled on a far less elevated grade than the attorney level. As it 

 was, however, he had quite enough to bear with. He suspected, or 

 perhaps knew, the proposition which his father was about to make, 

 and deemed it advisable to show sowe disposition to think for him- 

 self: — he therefore replied, with as much coolness as he could 

 command, " it is not, sir, because Miss Jenkins is of less ancient 

 family, or any way deficient in the estimable qualities of her sex, 

 that I remain unattached to her as a lover ; and it is purely in 

 justice to her, and not with any idea of vindicating myself, that I 

 make that statement." 



" I could have been content, sir," said the baronet, warming into 

 ire, "with your simple denial of the report, without any comments 

 upon * estimable^ qualities.^ Permit me to be the best judge of 

 those ; and, moreover, at once to inform you, that it is my desire, 

 concurrent with the permission of my brother, and the expectation 

 of the lady's consent, that you look for the hope of an immediate 

 union with your coushi Matilda.'' 



" Why, sir," inquired Baldwin, " is the lady alone permitted to 

 have a will ? " 



" Because, sir, she happens to have the will which pleases her 

 father ; but you err in supposing I am inclined to answer your 

 impertinent interrogatory. 1 see, sir, to what it tends. The wishes 

 of a parent are with you natural motives to opposition. Your poor 

 mother, sir ! ah, poor dear Lady B., she's gone, sir ! gone ! she died 

 under disease ; had she lived till now, you would have killed her 

 by ingratitude — you, sir! (that smile's a rank piece of impudence) ; 

 and since you are incapable of filial decency, may I request you to 

 leave the room immediately ! " 



Baldwin bowed respectfully to his father and withdrew. 



To reason with the baronet, Baldwin well knew it would be ridi- 

 culous ; but he felt it his duty to have an immediate conference 

 with the Lady Matilda, to whom he therefore behaved with much 

 courtesy on the following morning, and solicited the honour of her 

 company in a walk through the park. The baronet had possibly 

 hopes in the result, but the son's purpose was plainly, though deli- 

 cately to explain, that, with every due feeling towards her, as a lady 

 and his cousin, he could by no means acknowledge that peculiar 

 VOL. iL— 1833. s 



