Brotherly Love.

motives on paying his addresses to Ida . Indeed , she congratulated herself on her fancied sagacity in the matter for now that Simon was elevated , to a position far superior to that of her daughter , it was most unlikely that he would renew his suit , assuming that he was not disinterestedly attached to her . And Mrs , St . Claire was a type of the world in its general constitution

composed of selfish and grovelling considerations , and looking through only its own narrow lense into human nature , she succeeded in prevailing on her guest to remain for the evening trusting that an opportunity would offer of forwarding her views with reference to a marriage between him and Ida , which in her imagination would be a , fait accompli . Ida was exhausted by what had taken place during the day and retired

early to rest , so that Mrs . St . Claire was left alone with her visitor , and resolved to prosecute according to her own tactics , the matrimonial alliance between the young clergyman and her daughter , : She soon elicited sufficient from his remarks to satisfy her that he was really enamoured of her daughter . Having paid mentally a meed of praise

to her sagacity m having detected this at first , she proceeded to express her maternal anxiety respecting Ida , with a view of extracting something explicit from the young clergyman . Her remarks up to this point were similar to those which she expressed in her interview with Simon , and need not be repeated . However , she had profited by experience , and abstained from alluding to her precarious source of support . Her guest listened to

her with evident interest and she grew more communicative . She was , however , puzzled how to act with reference to one point , that was as regarded Simon . She thought that Jeunegrace might have heard something about Ida ' s attachment to Simon and might be deterred from seeking in marriage one whose affections were previously engaged . Then she calculated the probabilities of his knowng anything about the matterand the

, indiscretion of alluding to what might arouse his suspicions . However , she was determined as to what course she should adopt , by her guest ' s saying that , he believed Simon Le Trouve was a native of the town . He wants to extract it from me , she said to herself . I had better be candid .

In pursuance of this resolution she rushed in medias res and expressed her regret that he had ever been an inmate of her house . She then entered into a circumstantial narrative of Simon ' s first introduction through the amiable weakness of her husband , who pittied him for his deformity ; she stated that Ida , who participated in her father ' s feelings and who was associated with him from childhood , took compassion on

him , when she found that he was deserted by his playmates , not only from his unprepossessing exterior , but from Ms violent and uncontrollable temper which rendered him an unfit associate for any human being . She thought she might as well stop at this point , to see if her guest would make any observation that would suggest a clue to his feelings , or indicate how far it would be prudent for her to continue ; but as he remained silent she thought she might as well proceed in vilifying the object of her conversation , for she considered that bv representing Simon