Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-06-01
CHAPTER II.

CHAPTER ii.
FACE TO FACE.
And so it was Young Brent had fallen in
love with the daughter of the woman who
had just rejected his father so angrily. Mr..
Brent thought at first that this alone would
make an end of the thing; Mrs Barbara
Temple would not give her consent, so rea-
soned this parson, who knew the world so
well. He kept silence on the point however.
and soon his sons ardor, carrying everything
before it, made his small doubts and scruples
of no effect at all.
This picture is good-very good" the
father said, gazing at it, "but must tell you
that it does not do the girl justice Where it
fails cannot say; indeed, can scarcely say
what it is that makes Sophia Temple so hand
some"
Of course the son listened to all this with
greedy ears. and the conversation turned into
a discussion of the prospects of the affair
which for the present the father would not
admit to be hopeful, still remembering his
own late repulse. When, however, young
Brent ascertaincd that his father was on
visiting terms with the family he would hear
no more of doubt or difficulty. With such
an opening the fault must be his if he did not
make the girl his own.
"You are sure she is not engaged" he
asked.
"Oh, yes, quite sure" the rector answered
None of the girls are engaged; indeed. the
only one of the family who has been talked
about in that respect is the
Mr.. Brent stopped, and turned as red as a
turkey cock. He never did guard his lips
well. and this disclosure came out before he
remembered how awkward the subject might
be So he repeated the sentence stammer-
ingly.
THE only one of the family that was talked
about in that respect was
"You don't mean her mother cried the
young fellow. He was quite interested in his
beautys mother, and was ready to be inter
eSted in her grandmother if necessary.
Yes, the mother was talked about" the
rector said, still red with self-consciousness;
but there was nothing in it, Percy-nothing
us the mother handsome.' asked our lover,
vivaciously.
DECIDEDLY handsome" the father replied.
about what age"
"Her age, Percy" the rector replied gloom
| ily, has not been ascertained"
Young Brent was a man of scientific tastes
and it was to his credit that, born as he was
to great expectations, he steadfastly pursued
his studies, in which he was now no CON
tenptible authority. Geology was his
| 1aNOflte, ana ne TesOlVtQ 10 devote MS
energies to that science, for he was
| old-fashioned enough to believe that birth
TO good fortune imposes obligations on
the inheritor. Young Brent resolved TO
make his mark in the world. Like all young
enthusiasts he must be for ever talking over
his subjects, and he would try to interest his
father in geology; but Brent senior had no
patience with the Unsuitable demands of that
science for time. an the name of goodness, "
he would say, "is not six thousand years
enough for you: Just think what could be
done in six thousand years! Up to that time
you can do as You please, but | do object to
your upSetting everything on the plea of
wanting time to account for dead fish be
ing found in one of your strata. is it any
great matter how it came there or when! To
be upsetting Bishop Usher simply because
somebody has found "A few bones in a rock
where he did not expect it, seems to me the
most monstrous thing ever heard Of"
For all that, when the easy-humored rec
tor heard his son praised in company for his
scientific attachments he was not i'll pleased
and contrasting his earnest and energetic
youth with the idleness and frivoity of other
young fellows in the town, he was willing to
excuse the mild skepticism which contented
itself with requiring little chronological
elasticity from Bishop Usher Indeed, the
rector might fairly be proud of his SON. in
tellectual ardor is seldom exclusive and the
young mans love OF science gave him sym
pathy with much beside which was not di
rectly scientific He took an interest in
politics, but with Radical symptoms, which
his father bounced upon with vigilance anC
great heat ending the dispute generally with Q
laugh, and the hope that things would last hi,
time. Besides this young Brent was good
musician, and not without literary tastes, foI
he dabbled in poetry. But partly through
studious shynesS, and more from n certain
physical awkwardnesS he was not altogether
a drawing room man. He had too grea
respect for women TO be altogether "A favortc
with them; for these exalted beings, knowing
their celestial qualities, cannot see why they
should be approached with downcast eye
or addressed with faltering lips. So younG
Brent was not "A ladys man. nor a company
man, although there were stories of at leas
two pretty girls having been in love will
him; and as To company, whenever the tall
grew serious Brent, rs 10y natural right
j began to speak freely, and spoke often will
great success
3 1t was impossible TO Withstand the lover
entrcaticS, and 50 little Mr. Brent, divide
between uncusincss and satisfaction, fearing
n repulse, and yet not without hope of nov
wholly regaiumg his footing in the widow
5 lively house, introduced his son 10 tn
| ladies. All four were in the drawing room