I say unconsciously, for his strict conscientiousness would
have rejected any such formal proposition.
Another trifle annoyed him. He could not help noticing also that
although Bradley's manner and sympathy were confidential and almost
brotherly, he never made any allusion to Mainwaring's own family or
connections, and, in fact, gave no indication of what he believed was
the national curiosity in regard to strangers. Somewhat embarrassed by
this indifference, Mainwaring made the occasion of writing some letters
home an opportunity for laughingly alluding to the fact that he had made
his mother and his sisters fully aware of the great debt they owed the
household of The Lookout.
"They'll probably all send you a round robin of thanks, except, perhaps,
my next brother, Bob."
Bradley contented himself with a gesture of general deprecation, and did
not ask WHY Mainwaring's young brother should contemplate his death with
satisfaction. Nevertheless, some time afterwards Miss Macy remarked
that it seemed hard that the happiness of one member of a family should
depend upon a calamity to another. "As for instance?" asked Mainwaring,
who had already forgotten the circumstance. "Why, if you had died and
your younger brother succeeded to the baronetcy, and become Sir Robert
Mainwaring," responded Miss Macy, with precision.
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