Annie's note strengthened this determination.
"I give you joy, my dear Caroline," she wrote, "on the opportunity you will now enjoy of receiving Lord Alphingham's attentions, undisturbed by any of those wayward fancies which have lately so destroyed your peace.
Do not, for heaven's sake, by squeamish notions of filial obedience and dutiful conduct--which I do assure you have been very long out of date--destroy your own happiness.

When parents cease to care for the true welfare and felicity of their children, it becomes our positive duty to care for them ourselves.

Mr.Hamilton has given you no reason for his command to withdraw yourself from the attentions of Lord Alphingham; and surely that is the clearest imaginable proof that he really has none to give, and that it is merely to gratify his own unjust displeasure at your rejection of St.Eval, as if in such matters you had not an undoubted right to decide for yourself.

He cannot suppose that you will now be contented with that which completely crosses your own wishes, merely because he desires it.

That was all very well in your childhood, but at present, when your own reason must be satisfied, he has no right to expect obedience.