He was still as pale as gentlemanly ashes
at what had taken place in his rooms overnight.'
'If I HAD kept it from you, Ma, you may be sure it would have been
for your peace and quiet, and for the good of the young men, and in
my best discharge of my duty according to my lights.'
The old lady immediately walked across the room and kissed him:
saying, 'Of course, my dear Sept, I am sure of that.'
'However, it became the town-talk,' said Mr. Crisparkle, rubbing
his ear, as his mother resumed her seat, and her knitting, 'and
passed out of my power.'
'And I said then, Sept,' returned the old lady, 'that I thought ill
of Mr. Neville. And I say now, that I think ill of Mr. Neville.
And I said then, and I say now, that I hope Mr. Neville may come to
good, but I don't believe he will.' Here the cap vibrated again
considerably.
'I am sorry to hear you say so, Ma--'
'I am sorry to say so, my dear,' interposed the old lady, knitting
on firmly, 'but I can't help it.'
'--For,' pursued the Minor Canon, 'it is undeniable that Mr.
Neville is exceedingly industrious and attentive, and that he
improves apace, and that he has--I hope I may say--an attachment to
me.'
'There is no merit in the last article, my dear,' said the old
lady, quickly; 'and if he says there is, I think the worse of him
for the boast.'
'But, my dear Ma, he never said there was.'
'Perhaps not,' returned the old lady; 'still, I don't see that it
greatly signifies.
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