Trollope_The_Way_We_Live_Now.txt topic ['13', '324', '378', '393']

never have
a child whom he could in truth call his own. if he could induce
these people to live at , or to live there for at least a part
of the year, so that there should be some life in the place, he
thought that he could awaken himself again, and again take an interest
in the property. as a first step to this he must learn to regard
himself as an old man as one who had let life pass by too far for the
purposes of his own home, and who must therefore devote himself to
make happy the homes of others.

thinking of himself and so resolving, he had told much of his story
to his friend the , and as a consequence of those revelations
had invited down to the palace. felt that he had
still much to say to his cousin before her marriage which could be
said in the country much better than in town, and he wished to teach
her to regard as the county to which she should be attached
and in which she was to find her home. day before she came he was
over at the palace with the pretence of asking permission to come and
see his cousin soon after her arrival, but in truth with the idea of
talking about to the only friend to whom he had looked for
sympathy in his trouble. ' to settling your property on her or her
children,' said the , 'it is quite out of the question.
lawyer would not allow you to do it. would you be if after all
you were to marry?'

' shall never marry.'

' likely not but yet you may. is a man of your age to speak
with certainty of what he will do or what he will not do in that
respect? can make your will, doing as you please with your
property and the will, when made, can be revoked.'

' think you hardly understand just what feel,' said , 'and
know very well that am unable to explain it. wish to act
exactly as would do if she were my daughter, and as if her son, if
she had a son, would be my natural heir.'

', if she were your daughter, her son wouldn't be your natural heir
as long as there was a probability or even a chance that you might
have a son of your own. man should never put the power, which
properly belongs to him, out of his own hands. it does properly
belong to you it must be better with you than elsewhere. think very
highly of your cousin, and have no reason to think otherwise than
well of the gentleman whom she intends to marry. it is only human
nature to suppose that the fact that your property is still at your
own disposal should have some effect in producing the more complete
observance of your wishes.'

' do not believe it in the least, my lord,' said somewhat
angrily.

' is because you are so carried away by enthusiasm at the present
moment as to ignore the ordinary rules of life. are not,
perhaps, many fathers who have and for their daughters
but there are very many who may take a lesson from the folly of the
old king. " hadst little wit in thy bald crown," the fool said to
him, "when thou gav'st thy golden one away." world, take it,
thinks that the fool was right.'

did so far succeed that abandoned the idea of
settling his property on 's children. he was not on
that account the less resolute in his determination to make himself
and his own interests subordinate to those of his cousin. he came
over, two days afterwards, to see her he found her in the garden, and
walked there with her for a couple of hours. ' hope all our troubles
are over now,' he said smiling.

' mean about ,' said 'and mamma?'

', indeed. to think that has done the best
thing in her power. doubt she has been advised by , and
seems to be a prudent man. about your mother herself,
hope that she may now be comfortable. was not alluding to
and your mother. was thinking of you and of myself.'

' hope that you will never have any troubles.'

' have had troubles. mean to speak very freely to you now, dear.
was nearly upset what suppose people call broken-hearted when was
assured that you certainly would never become my wife. ought not to
have allowed myself to get into such a frame of mind. should have
known that was too old to have a chance.'

', it was not that.'

' that and other things. should have known it sooner, and have
got over my misery quicker. should have been more manly and
stronger. all, though love is a wonderful incident in a man's
life, it is not that only that he is here for. have duties plainly
marked out for me; and as should never allow myself to be withdrawn
from them by pleasure, so neither should by sorrow. it is done
now. have conquered my regrets, and can say with safety that
look forward to your presence and 's presence at as the
source of all my future happiness. will make him welcome as though
he were my brother, and you as though you were my daughter. ask
of you is that you will not be chary of your presence there.' only
answered him by a close pressure on his arm. ' is what wanted to
say to you. will teach yourself to regard me as your best and
closest friend as he on whom you have the strongest right to depend,
of all except your husband?'

' is no teaching necessary for that,' she said.

' a daughter leans on a father would have you lean on me, .
will soon come to find that am very old. grow old quickly, and
already feel myself to be removed from everything that is young and
foolish.'

' never were foolish.'

' young either, sometimes think. now you must promise me
this. will do all that you can to induce him to make his
residence.'

' have no plans as yet at all, .'

' it will be certainly so much the easier for you to fall into my
plan. course you will be married at ?'

' will mamma say?'

' will come here, and am sure will enjoy it. regard as
settled. , after that, let this be your home so that you should
learn really to care about and to love the place. will be your home
really, you know, some of these days. will have to be of
yourself when am gone, till you have a son old enough to
fill that exalted position.' all his love to her and his
good-will to them both, he could not bring himself to say that
should be of .

', , please do not talk like that.'

' it is necessary, my dear. want you to know what my wishes are,
and, if it be possible, would learn what are yours. mind is quite
made up as to my future life. course, do not wish to dictate to
you and if did, could not dictate to .'

' pray do not call him .'

', will not to then. goes the last of my anger.'
threw his hands up as though he were scattering his indignation to the
air. ' would not dictate either to you or to him, but it is right
that you should know that hold my property as steward for those who
are to come after me, and that the satisfaction of my stewardship will
be infinitely increased if find that those for whom act share the
interest which shall take in the matter. is the only payment
which you and he can make me for my trouble.'

' , !'

brow became a little black as he answered her. ' a sister,' he
said very solemnly, ' will not say a word against her brother; but on
that subject claim a right to come to a decision on my own judgment.
is a matter in which have thought much, and, may say, suffered
much. have ideas, old-fashioned ideas, on the matter, which need
not pause to explain to you now. we are as much together as hope
we shall be, you will, no doubt, come to understand them.
disposition of a family property, even though it be one so small as
mine, is, to my thinking, a matter which a man should not make in
accordance with his own caprices or even with his own affections.
owes a duty to those who live on his land, and he owes a duty to his
country. , though it may seem fantastic to say so, think he owes
a duty to those who have been before him, and who have manifestly
wished that the property should be continued in the hands of their
descendants. things are to me very holy. what am doing am
in some respects departing from the theory of my life but do so
under a perfect conviction that by the course am taking shall best
perform the duties to which have alluded. do not think, ,
that we need say any more about that.' had spoken so seriously,
that, though she did not quite understand all that he had said, she
did not venture to dispute his will any further. did not endeavour
to exact from her any promise, but having explained his purposes,
kissed her as he would have kissed a daughter, and then left her and
rode home without going into the house.

after that, came down to , and the same
thing was said to him, though in a much less solemn manner. was
received quite in the old way. declared that he would throw all
anger behind him, and that should be again , he rigidly kept
his promise, whatever might be the cost to his own feelings. to his
love for , and his old hopes, and the disappointment which had so
nearly unmanned him, he said not another word to his fortunate rival.
knew it all, but there was now no necessity that any allusion
should be made to past misfortunes. indeed made a solemn
resolution that to he would never again speak of as the
girl whom he himself had loved, though he looked forward to a time,
probably many years hence, when he might perhaps remind her of his
fidelity. he spoke much of the land and of the tenants and the
labourers, of his own farm, of the amount of the income, and of the
necessity of so living that the income might always be more than
sufficient for the wants of the household.

the spring came round, and were married by the
at the parish church of , and gave away the
bride. those who saw the ceremony declared that the squire had
not seemed to be so happy for many a long year. , who was
there with his wife himself now one of 's tenants, having
occupied the land which had become vacant by the death of old
declared that the wedding was almost as good fun as his own.
', what a fool you are!' said to her spouse, when this
opinion was expressed with rather a loud voice. ', be,' said
'but not such a fool as to a missed a having o' you.' ', ;
it was was the fool then,' said . ''ll see about that when
the bairn's born,' said equally aloud. held her
tongue. , and , were also at thus doing
great honour to and , and showing by their
presence that all family feuds were at an end. was not
there. up to this time had continued to
keep that gentleman as one of his population in the
town no doubt not without considerable trouble to himself.