If you wish to allow a mere jealous fear in your heart to blight her prospects, she will be the sufferer, and hereafter may thank your folly for her misfortune." Sir Richard remained silent a moment or two and then spoke tremulously: "The saddest thing about age is its hesitancy, its doubts, its fears." Here the tears began to stream down the old man's cheek as he continued: "Through all my misfortunes Frances has been my joy, my solace.

Sarah is a good daughter, but she lacks the ineffable tenderness, the calm, ready sympathy of her sister.

If evil were to befall Frances, my heart would break--break." He covered his face with his hands and sobbed, murmuring as though to himself: "My God, I fear! I fear! She is my all--all! The king has taken everything else, and now you ask me to give her to him." A great lump came to my throat, but in a moment I was able to say: "Do not fear, uncle, do not fear! Rather, rejoice! Let me be your staff, your courage, your strength! Think it over till morning, and then give your consent with the full assurance that it will mean happiness for the girl whom you and I so dearly love." The old man rose, took my hand, held it in his feeble grasp for a moment, and went to his room without another word.
As I was going down the narrow passageway to my bedroom, Frances opened her door and asked: "What does father say?
I know it almost kills him." "Yes," I answered.

"But he will consent in the morning." Tears came to her eyes and she gave me her hand, saying: "Thank you, brother Ned.

We are wounding him only for his own sake.