But
the reader knows how completely that answer was out of my power.
"I have not the slightest ground for supposing," said I, "that the
lady would accede to such an arrangement,--if it were possible. My
acquaintance with her has been altogether confined to--. To tell
the truth, I have not been in Miss Weston's confidence, and have
only taken her for that which she has seemed to be."
"Sir!" said the baronet, again looking at me as though he would
wither me on the spot for my falsehood.
"It is true!" said Julia, getting up from her seat, and appealing
with clasped hands to her uncle--"as true as Heaven."
"Madam!" said he, "do you both take me for a fool?"
"That you should take me for one," said I, "would be very natural.
The facts are as we state to you. Miss Weston,--as I now learn that
she is,--did me the honour of calling at my hotel, having heard--"
And then it seemed to me as though I were attempting to screen
myself by telling the story against her, so I was again silent.
Never in my life had I been in a position of such extraordinary
difficulty. The duty which I owed to Julia as a woman, and to Sir
William as a guardian, and to myself as the father of a family, all
clashed with each other.
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