And Elizabeth was rather hurt that Richard could not see the conditions
as reasonable a service as she did. "You may trust me," she said, "for
ten, for twenty years; is not that enough?"
"No, it is not enough," he answered, warmly. "I want you now. If you
loved me, you would leave all and come with me. That is how Phyllis
loves John Millard."
"I think you are mistaken. If you were sick, and needed Phyllis for
your comfort, or for your business, she would not leave you. Men may
leave father and mother for their wives, that is their duty; but women
have a higher commandment given them. It may be an unwritten Scripture,
but it is in every good daughter's heart, Richard."
The squire did not again name to him the succession to Hallam. Antony's
proposal had become the dearest hope of the old man's heart. He wished
to live that he might see the estate honorably restored to his son.
He had fully determined that it should go to Elizabeth, unless Antony
paid the uttermost farthing of its redemption; but if he did this,
then he believed that it might be safely entrusted to him. For a man
may be reckless with money or land which he acquires by inheritance,
but he usually prizes what he buys with money which he himself earns.
Therefore Richard's and Elizabeth's hopes hung upon Antony's success;
and with such consolation as he could gather from this probability,
and from Elizabeth's assurance of fidelity to him, he was obliged to
content himself.
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