 is a
mistaken one, I do assure you.«
    Mrs. Varden stammered that she was sorry -
    »Sorry, my dear ma'am,« he interposed. »Never be sorry for what is so very
amiable, so very good in intention, so perfectly like yourself. But there are
grave and weighty reasons, pressing family considerations, and apart even from
these, points of religious difference, which interpose themselves, and render
their union impossible; utterly im-possible. I should have mentioned these
circumstances to your husband; but he has - you will excuse my saying this so
freely - he has not your quickness of apprehension or depth of moral sense. What
an extremely airy house this is, and how beautifully kept! For one like myself -
a widower so long - these tokens of female care and superintendence have
inexpressible charms.«
    Mrs. Varden began to think (she scarcely knew why) that the young Mr.
Chester must be in the wrong and the old Mr. Chester must be in the right.
    »My son Ned,« resumed her tempter with his utmost winning air, »has had, I
am told, your lovely daughter's aid, and your open-hearted husband's.«
    »- Much more than mine, sir,« said Mrs. Varden; »a great deal more. I have
often had my doubts. It's a -«
    »A bad example,« suggested Mr. Chester. »It is. No doubt it is. Your
daughter is at that age when to set before her an encouragement for young
persons to rebel against their parents on this most important point, is
particularly injudicious. You are quite right. I ought to have thought of that
myself, but it escaped me, I confess - so far superior are your sex to ours,
dear madam, in point of penetration and sagacity.«
    Mrs. Varden looked as wise as if she had really said something to deserve
this compliment - firmly believed she had, in short - and her faith in her own
shrewdness increased considerably.
    »My dear ma'am,« said Mr. Chester, »you embolden me to be plain with you. My
son and I are at variance on this point. The young lady and her natural guardian
differ upon it, also. And the closing point is, that my son is bound by his duty
to me, by his honour, by every solemn tie and obligation, to marry some one
else.«
    »Engaged to marry another lady!« quoth Mrs. Varden, holding up her
