Not Only The Disparity Of Their
Years Made Him Consider The Passion He Was Possessed Of As Ridiculous,
There Was
One circumstance, which, if at any time a thought of marrying
her entered into his head, immediately extirpated it, which
Was, that
there was a possibility of her being born not only of the meanest, but
the vilest parents, who, on hearing her establishment, might appear and
claim the right they had in her; and lo, said he, I shall ally myself
to, perhaps, a numerous family of vagabonds; at least, whether it be so
or not, the manner in which these children were exposed, being publicly
known, may furnish a pretence for any wretch to boast a kindred.
He was therefore determined to suppress a passion, which, as he had too
much honour to seek the gratification of by one way, his prudence and
character in the world would not allow him to think of by the other: and
as absence seemed to him the best remedy, he sent her down into the
country again with a precipitation, which made her (wholly ignorant of
the real motive) fear she had done something to offend him. At parting,
she entreated him to let her know if he had been dissatisfied with any
thing in her behaviour. - Wherefore do you ask? said he, with some
emotion, which the poor innocent still mistook for displeasure; because,
answered she, dropping some tears at the same time, that you banish me
from your presence.
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