The things we do!

"That was the
hope I always had till my talk with your poor father stopped it. Your
sister was engaged to my Lord Kew then; and my wishes of course were
impossible. The poor boy is very much cut up, and his whole heart is bent
upon possessing her. She is not, she can't be, indifferent to him. I am
sure she would not be, if her family in the least encouraged him. Can
either of these young folks have a better chance of happiness again
offered to them in life? There's youth, there's mutual liking, there's
wealth for them almost--only saddled with the encumbrance of an old
dragoon, who won't be much in their way. Give us your good word, Barnes,
and let them come together; and upon my word the rest of my days will be
made happy if I can eat my meal at their table."
Whilst the poor Colonel was making his appeal, Barnes had time to collect
his answer; which, since in our character of historians we take leave to
explain gentlemen's motives as well as record their speeches and actions,
we may thus interpret.


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