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Lady Carbury had allowed herself two days for answering Mr Broune's proposition It was ht and she was bound by her promise to send a reply so she had made up her mind; and at noon on that day her letter ritten She had spoken to Hetta about the man, and she had seen that Hetta had disliked hiuided by Hetta's opinion In regard to her daughter she was always influenced by a vague idea that Hetta was an unnecessary trouble There was an excellent match ready for her if she would only accept it There was no reason why Hetta should continue to add herself to the family burden She never said this even to herself,--but she felt it, and was not therefore inclined to consult Hetta's cohter said had its effect She had encountered the troubles of one e, and they had been very bad She did not look upon thateven up to this day a consciousness that it had been the business of her life, as a portionless girl, to obtainand servility But that had been done The ain doubtful, because of her son's vices; but it ain secured,--by means of her son's beauty! Hetta had said that Mr Broune liked his oay Had not she herself found that all men liked their oay? And she liked her oay She liked the comfort of a home to herself Personally she did not want the companionship of a husband And what scenes would there be between Felix and thewithin her, al to conscience, which told her that it was not right that she should burden any one with the responsibility and inevitable troubles of such a son as her son Felix What would she do were her husband to command her to separate herself from her son? In such circumstances she would certainly separate herself fros deeply, she wrote as follows to Mr Broune:-DEAREST FRIEND, I need not tell you that I have thought enerous and affectionate offer How could I refuse such a prospect as you offer ard your career as the most noble which a man's ambition can achieve And in that career no one is your superior I cannot but be proud that such a one as you should have asked me to be his wife But, my friend, life is subject to wounds which are incurable, and th left h to be worthy of your acceptance I have been so cut and scotched and lopped by the sufferings which I have endured that I am best alone It cannot all be described;--and yet with you I would have no reticence I would put the whole history before you to read, with all my troubles past and still present, all my hopes, and all my fears,--with every circumstance as it has passed by and every expectation that re for your patience The result of it would be to er fit to enter in upon a new ho showers instead of sunshine, melancholy in lieu of mirth