“Your husband,” said he to Mrs. Clifton, “has spoken to you of the proposition I made to him respecting my niece?”

“He has not,” said Mrs. Clifton.

“I requested him to consult you.  I proposed to take her home with me, and give her the very first advantages for education that the city can afford.”

“You are very generous.  But what did Henry say to it?”

“He does not like the idea of parting with her; but, as I understand it, he holds the matter under advisement till he has consulted you.  I hope you will not hesitate to give your consent, and to use your influence with my brother, in case it should be necessary.”

“I should be sorry to withhold my consent from anything which may be for the good of my child.  So generous an offer should not be declined without due consideration.  At the same time, I must frankly say that I do not think it at all probable that I can bring myself to consent to your proposal.”

“What objection can be urged against it?”

“I doubt very much whether it will be for the best.”

“Why not for the best?  What can be better than a first rate education?”

“Nothing; certainly, taking that term in its true sense.  A first rate education for a young lady is one adapted to prepare her for the sphere in which she is to act.  If Susan were to go with you, she would doubtless learn many things of which she would otherwise be ignorant; but it may be a question whether she would be thereby fitted for the station she is to occupy in life.  That, in all probability, will be a humble one.”

“She has talents fitted to adorn any station, only let them receive suitable cultivation.  She shall never be in a position which shall render useless the education I will give her.  I have the means of keeping my promise.”

“I doubt it not.  But ought a mother to consent that one so young and inexperienced should be removed from home and its influences, and be exposed to the temptations of the great world in which you live?  It is a very different one from that to which she has been accustomed.”

“As to removing her from home, my house shall be her home, and my wife shall supply the place of her mother.”

“I will give to your kind proposal the consideration which it deserves; but I must say, again, that it is very doubtful whether I can bring myself to consent to it.”

“I can’t say that I have any doubt about the matter,” said her husband, who entered the room as she uttered the last remark.  “To be plain, my dear brother, if there were no other reasons against the plan, I should not dare to place her in a family where the voice of prayer is not heard, especially as her character is now in process of formation.”

Richard was silent.  At first, he felt an emotion of anger; but he remembered that they were in the room in which their excellent father was accustomed to assemble his family each morning and evening for social worship.  On no occasion was that worship neglected, even for a single day.  After a long silence, he remarked, “You may think better of it, my brother,” and retired to his room.