Our Gentleman Boarder 



plexity ; she knew full well that the young 

 man's parents would be highly incensed at 

 their son's behaviour and would, as a matter 

 of course, accuse my Mother of connivance, 

 when in very truth the good soul had done 

 her utmost to keep the young people apart. 

 On the other hand, she was satisfied in her 

 owm mind that it was a very true love that 

 had grown between them, and she knew 

 well the unusual worth of her daughter. 

 To that bright mind and upright character, 

 almost austere in its strength, she had 

 looked for guidance and help from Mary's 

 very childhood, wondering sometimes at 

 her own dependence and with a secret re- 

 verence. She knew that Mary well deserved 

 ail the happiness possible in such a union 

 and her motherly heart desired it for her 

 child. But she had enough of worldly 

 wisdom to know that the obstacles were 

 well-nigh impassable, and that there are 

 people in this world whom no charm of 

 mind or person will reconcile to a homeli- 

 ness of parentage. She had a very earnest 

 talk with Mary when she came to tell her 

 that Mr. Trevanion was only waiting her 

 consent to the engagement to write and ask 

 his parents for theirs. She told her that 

 they should not allow themselves to hope 

 that Mr. Tre van ion's family would receive 



