I am going to do so. Would you like to leave it to him?'
'A bright idea!' cried Edwin. 'The other trustee. Nothing more
natural. He comes down, he goes to Jack, he relates what we have
agreed upon, and he states our case better than we could. He has
already spoken feelingly to you, he has already spoken feelingly to
me, and he'll put the whole thing feelingly to Jack. That's it! I
am not a coward, Rosa, but to tell you a secret, I am a little
afraid of Jack.'
'No, no! you are not afraid of him!' cried Rosa, turning white, and
clasping her hands.
'Why, sister Rosa, sister Rosa, what do you see from the turret?'
said Edwin, rallying her. 'My dear girl!'
'You frightened me.'
'Most unintentionally, but I am as sorry as if I had meant to do
it. Could you possibly suppose for a moment, from any loose way of
speaking of mine, that I was literally afraid of the dear fond
fellow? What I mean is, that he is subject to a kind of paroxysm,
or fit - I saw him in it once - and I don't know but that so great
a surprise, coming upon him direct from me whom he is so wrapped up
in, might bring it on perhaps. Which - and this is the secret I
was going to tell you - is another reason for your guardian's
making the communication. He is so steady, precise, and exact,
that he will talk Jack's thoughts into shape, in no time: whereas
with me Jack is always impulsive and hurried, and, I may say,
almost womanish.'
Rosa seemed convinced. Perhaps from her own very different point
of view of 'Jack,' she felt comforted and protected by the
interposition of Mr.
Pages:
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203