‘If old Mr. Goldsmith acts as he ought,’ continued Albinia, ’we should never lose our Sophy—­and what a son we should have! he has so exactly the bright temper that she needs.’

‘Well, well, that is all in the clouds,’ said Mr. Kendal.  ’I wish the present were equally satisfactory.’

‘Ah, I had better call poor Lucy.’

‘Come back with her, pray,’ called Mr. Kendal, nervously.

Albinia regretted her superfluous gossip when Lucy appeared with eyes so sparkling, and cheeks so flushed, that it was plain that she had been in all the miseries of suspense.  Her countenance glowed with feeling, that lifted her beyond her ordinary doll-like prettiness.  Albinia’s heart sank with compassion as she held her hand, and her father stood as if struck by something more like the vision or his youth than he had been prepared for; each feeling that something genuine was present, and respecting it accordingly.

‘Lucy,’ said Mr. Kendal, tenderly, ’I see I need not tell you why I have sent for you.  You are very young, my dear, and you must trust us to care for your happiness.’

‘Yes.’  Lucy looked up wistfully.

’This gentleman has some qualities such as may make him shine in the eyes of a young lady; but it is our duty to look farther, and I am afraid I know nothing of him that could justify me in trusting him with anything so precious to me.’

Lucy’s face became full of consternation, her hand lay unnerved in Albinia’a pressure, and Mr. Kendal turned his eyes from her to his wife, as he proceeded,

’I have seen so much wretchedness caused by want of religious principle, that even where the morals appeared unblemished, I should feel no confidence where I saw no evidence of religion, and I should consider it as positively wrong to sanction an engagement with such a person.  Now you must perceive that we have every means of forming an opinion of this young man, and that he has given us no reason to think he would show the unselfish care for your welfare that we should wish to secure.’

Albinia tried to make it comprehensible.  ’You know, my dear, we have always seen him resolved on his own way, and not caring how he may inconvenience his uncle and aunt.  We know his temper is not always amiable, and differently as you see him, you must let us judge.’

Wrenching her hand away, Lucy burst into tears.  Her father looked at Albinia, as if she ought to have saved him this infliction, and she began a little whispering about not distressing papa, which checked the sobs, and enabled him to say, ’There, that’s right, my dear, I see you are willing to submit patiently to our judgment, and I believe you will find it for the best.  We will do all in our power to help you, and make you happy,’ and bending down he kissed her, and left her to his wife.

In such family scenes, logic is less useful than the power of coming to a friendly conclusion; Lucy’s awe of her father was a great assistance, she was touched with his unwonted softness, and did not apprehend how total was the rejection.  But what he was spared, was reserved for Albinia.  There was a lamentable scene of sobbing and weeping, beyond all argument, and only ending in physical exhaustion, which laid her on the bed all the rest of the day.