"At home--at poor Clivey's, I mean--it was
even worse," he continued; "Mrs. Mackenzie for months past, by her
complaints, and--and her conduct, has made my son and me so miserable--
that flight before her, and into any refuge, was the best course. She too
does not mean ill, Pen. Do not waste any of your oaths upon that poor
woman," he added, holding up his finger, and smiling sadly. "She thinks I
deceived her, though Heaven knows it was myself I deceived. She has great
influence over Rosa. Very few persons can resist that violent and
headstrong woman, sir. I could not bear her reproaches, or my poor sick
daughter, whom her mother leads almost entirely now, and it was with all
this grief on my mind, that, as I was walking one day upon Brighton
cliff, I met my schoolfellow, my Lord H----, who has ever been a good
friend of mine--and who told me how he had just been appointed a governor
of Grey Friars. He asked me to dine with him on the next day, and would
take no refusal.
Pages:
1745
1746
1747
1748
1749
1750
1751
1752
1753
1754
1755
1756
1757
1758
1759
1760
1761
1762
1763
1764
1765
1766
1767
1768
1769