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Article BROTHERLY LOVE. ← Page 5 of 9 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Brotherly Love.
During the periods when the patient was asleep , Ida used to avail herself of the opportunity of writing to Jeunegrace , for Mrs . St . Claire could do nothing but weep the whole day through , aud so little control had she over the exhibition of her feelings that her presence in the sick chamber was strictly prohibited by the medical attendant . Ida acquainted the young clergyman of the arrival of her cousin and his condition . His
letters were frequent , but she fancied that a less fervent tone pervaded them than what she might have expected from the attachment he had so earnestly expressed towards her . He stated that in the Marquis de Madelaine he had found a relative and a previous acquaintance , whose character was most amiable , and whom lie was prevented introducing to her , by the melancholy event which had occurred since his departure .
But there was one feature in his letters which surprised Ida , anl that was his frequent mention of Simon Le Trouve , and his statements that the latter had been most grievously misrepresented , his character having undergone a complete change . He said that his latter life fully proved the existence of that better nature of which she spoke , and which had now fully developed itself , and this he ascertained from an unquestionable
source . This commendation of Simon iu some degree prepared Ida for what Jeunegrace subsequently stated , which in effect was , that under the circumstances , and being aware that Simon ' s love for her was undiminished , he would release her from the contract into which she entered , from a sense of duty . In all this , Ida perceived only a generous ancl self-sacrificing disposition , but not so Mrs . St . Claire .
W hen that good lady was made acquainted with the contents of this last epistle , not even the affliction of her mind could prevent her giving vent to her resentment against what she regarded as the venality of Jeunegi-ace , in whose feelings she had little doubt an alteration had been effected , and that when he began to reflect calml y on the pecuniary position of Ida , his worldly feelings predominated , and he repented the offer he had
made . She was resolved to write to him , and reproach him with his perfidy . This determination was , however , altered , and a new direction given to her feelings in this affair . This was the arrival of a letter containing her usual quarterly allowance , with an intimation that in future she might expect double the amount , which the donor had secured to her and her daughtereven in the event of his death . The good ladyanxious
, , to escape from her melancholy reflections , began forthwith to indulge in speculation as to the probable effect of this accession to her means in the future prospects of Ida , and she was inwardly pleased that the latter was not to become the wife of a clergyman , whose means were limited , ancl who , under altered circumstances , she- no longer regarded as not entitled to her hand . She also thought of Jeunegrace ' s statement respecting
Simon , towards whom her sentiments had undergone a considerable change since she had heard of his unexpected accession to rank and wealth . Under the influence of these feelings , she addressed the young clergyman in rather a stately tone , assuring him that she had no desire to urge a marriage between him and her daughter , especially as she felt more satisfied than ever of the deep attachment of the latter to Simon , whose
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Brotherly Love.
During the periods when the patient was asleep , Ida used to avail herself of the opportunity of writing to Jeunegrace , for Mrs . St . Claire could do nothing but weep the whole day through , aud so little control had she over the exhibition of her feelings that her presence in the sick chamber was strictly prohibited by the medical attendant . Ida acquainted the young clergyman of the arrival of her cousin and his condition . His
letters were frequent , but she fancied that a less fervent tone pervaded them than what she might have expected from the attachment he had so earnestly expressed towards her . He stated that in the Marquis de Madelaine he had found a relative and a previous acquaintance , whose character was most amiable , and whom lie was prevented introducing to her , by the melancholy event which had occurred since his departure .
But there was one feature in his letters which surprised Ida , anl that was his frequent mention of Simon Le Trouve , and his statements that the latter had been most grievously misrepresented , his character having undergone a complete change . He said that his latter life fully proved the existence of that better nature of which she spoke , and which had now fully developed itself , and this he ascertained from an unquestionable
source . This commendation of Simon iu some degree prepared Ida for what Jeunegrace subsequently stated , which in effect was , that under the circumstances , and being aware that Simon ' s love for her was undiminished , he would release her from the contract into which she entered , from a sense of duty . In all this , Ida perceived only a generous ancl self-sacrificing disposition , but not so Mrs . St . Claire .
W hen that good lady was made acquainted with the contents of this last epistle , not even the affliction of her mind could prevent her giving vent to her resentment against what she regarded as the venality of Jeunegi-ace , in whose feelings she had little doubt an alteration had been effected , and that when he began to reflect calml y on the pecuniary position of Ida , his worldly feelings predominated , and he repented the offer he had
made . She was resolved to write to him , and reproach him with his perfidy . This determination was , however , altered , and a new direction given to her feelings in this affair . This was the arrival of a letter containing her usual quarterly allowance , with an intimation that in future she might expect double the amount , which the donor had secured to her and her daughtereven in the event of his death . The good ladyanxious
, , to escape from her melancholy reflections , began forthwith to indulge in speculation as to the probable effect of this accession to her means in the future prospects of Ida , and she was inwardly pleased that the latter was not to become the wife of a clergyman , whose means were limited , ancl who , under altered circumstances , she- no longer regarded as not entitled to her hand . She also thought of Jeunegrace ' s statement respecting
Simon , towards whom her sentiments had undergone a considerable change since she had heard of his unexpected accession to rank and wealth . Under the influence of these feelings , she addressed the young clergyman in rather a stately tone , assuring him that she had no desire to urge a marriage between him and her daughter , especially as she felt more satisfied than ever of the deep attachment of the latter to Simon , whose