So it was that Mr. Lyle would look with no favor, or even patience, on
any suitor. Even when Constance herself pleaded for Ernest Ellwood,
telling him she could never love Gerald other than as a brother; and
if he would not give her to the one she loved, that she would remain
with them, but would never wed where she could not love.
Still he remained firm in his determination to give her to his
friend's son or no one.
Years passed by--but she continued as firm and determined in her
resolve as her father in his.
Gerald, like his father, was a noble fellow. He loved Constance, but
when he found his love was a source of grief to her, he began to set
himself to work to devise means of rendering her path in life rather
more pleasant. She did not murmur at her self-sacrifice; this she
considered her duty; but the constant and continual entreaties for the
marriage wore upon her, and made her life almost miserable.
Gerald told Mr. Lyle he must beg to resign all pretensions to
Constance; that upon examining his heart, he found out that it was as
a sister he loved her, and was not willing to render her unhappy by
making her his wife. If his father were living he would not wish it.
Pages:
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195