But what jarred against her proud, honest spirit was the implication that such a request gave of taking as a right that which had been so long bestowed as a favor.
Nothing but the great strait they were in could ever have driven her to consent that Mr.Ascott should be applied to at all; but since it must be done, she felt that she had better do it herself.

Was it from some lurking doubt or dread that Ascott might not speak the entire truth, as she had insisted upon its being spoken, before Mr.Ascott was asked for any thing?
since whatever he gave must be given with a full knowledge on his part of the whole pitiable state of affairs.
It was with a strange, sad feeling--the sadder because he never seemed to suspect it, but talked and laughed with her as usual--that she took her nephew's arm and walked silently through the dark squares, perfectly well aware that he only asked her to go with him in order to do an unpleasant thing which he did not like to do himself, and that she only went with him in the character of watch, or supervisor, to try and save him from doing something which she herself would be ashamed should be done.
Yet he was ostensibly the head, hope, and stay of the family.

Alas! many a family has to submit to, and smile under an equally melancholy and fatal sham..