As for my sister, I bless God that
you have not been able to infect her with your unnatural prejudice,
which, because she is too just, too virtuous, too humane to imbibe,
you reject her as an alien to your blood, and turn her out unprovided
into a barbarous world. But even there your vicious purpose shall be
defeated: that same Providence, that screened me from the cruelty
of your hate, shall extend its protection to her, until I shall
find it convenient to assert by law that right of maintenance which
Nature, it seems, hath bestowed upon us in vain. In the mean time,
you will enjoy the satisfaction of paying an undivided attention
to that darling son, whose amiable qualities have so long engaged
and engrossed your love and esteem."
This freedom of expostulation exalted his mother's ire to mere
frenzy: she cursed him with the bitterest imprecations, and raved
like a bedlamite at the door, which she attempted to burst open.
Her efforts were seconded by her favourite son, who denounced
vengeance against Peregrine, and made furious assaults against the
lock, which resisted all their applications, until our hero espying
his friends Gauntlet and Pipes stepping over a stile that stood
about a furlong from the window, called them to his assistance:
giving them to understand how he was besieged, he desired they
would keep off his mother, that he might the more easily secure
his sister Julia's retreat.
Pages:
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348