—my dear child—you shall not embrace certain misery to free me from uncertain danger."
So exclaimed Ellieslaw; and, strange and inconsistent beings that we are! he expressed the real though momentary feelings of his heart.
"Father," repeated Isabella, "I will consent to the marriage."
"No, my child, no—not now at least—we will humble ourselves to obtain delay from him; and yet, Isabella, could you overcome a dislike which has no real foundation, think, in other respects, what a match—wealth—rank—importance."
"Father!" reiterated Isabella, "I have consented."
It seemed as if she had lost the power of saying any thing else, or even of varying the phrase which, with such effort, she had compelled herself to utter. "Heaven bless thee, my child!—Heaven bless thee!—And it will bless thee with riches, with pleasure, with power."
