human
And you commission me, then, to speak to our dear Jemima? said Mrs. Dale, joyfully, and without any bitterness whatever in that
gpt
Nay, before speaking to Miss Hazeldean, it would surely be proper to know how far my addresses would be acceptable to the family.
human
Ah!
gpt
The squire is of course the head of the family.
human
The squire--yes, very true--quite proper. (Then, looking up, and with naivete)
gpt
Can you believe me? I never thought of the squire. And he is such an odd man, and has so many English prejudices, that really--dear me, how vexatious that it should never once have occurred to me that Mr. Hazeldean had a voice in the matter! Indeed, the relationship is so distant, it is not like being her father; and Jemima is of age, and can do as she pleases; and--but, as you say, it is quite proper that he should be consulted as the head of the family.
human
And you think that the Squire of Hazeldean might reject my alliance! Pshaw! that's a grand word indeed,--I mean, that he might object very reasonably to his cousin's marriage with a foreigner, of whom he can know nothing, except that which in all countries is disreputable, and is said in this to be criminal,--poverty.
gpt
You misjudge us poor English people, and you wrong the squire, Heaven bless him! for we were poor enough when he singled out my husband from a hundred for the minister of his parish, for his neighbour and his friend. I will speak to him fearlessly--
human
And frankly. And now I have used that word, let me go on with the confession which your kindly readiness, my fair friend, somewhat interrupted. I said that if I might presume to think my addresses would be acceptable to Miss Hazeldean and her family, I was too sensible of her amiable qualities not to--not to--
gpt
Not to be the happiest of men,-- that's the customary English phrase, Doctor.
human
There cannot be a better. But, continued he, seriously,
gpt
I wish it first to be understood that I have--been married before!
human
Married before!
gpt
And that I have an only child, dear to me,--inexpressibly dear. That child, a daughter, has hitherto lived abroad; circumstances now render it desirable that she should make her home with me; and I own fairly that nothing has so attached me to Miss Hazeldean, nor so induced my desire for our matrimonial connection, as my belief that she has the heart and the temper to become a kind mother to my little one.
human
You judge her rightly there.
gpt
Now, in pecuniary matters, as you may conjecture from my mode of life, I have nothing to offer to Miss Hazeldean correspondent with her own fortune, whatever that may be!
human
That difficulty is obviated by settling Miss Hazeldean's fortune on herself, which is customary in such cases.
gpt
And my child, then? said he, feelingly. There was something in that appeal so alien from all sordid and merely personal mercenary motives, that Mrs. Dale could not have had the heart to make the very rational suggestion,
human
But that child is not Jemima's, and you may have children by her.
gpt
But from what you and Jemima may jointly possess you can save something annually,--you can insure your life for your child. We did so when our poor child whom we lost was born (the tears rushed into Mrs. Dale's eyes);