That
was the one defect of his character. He was a man of thought and
fancy rather than of decision and action.
"When he returned home and told his parents of his attachment for
me, they were furious, and wrote very bitter letters to both father
and myself, accusing us of having intrigued to obtain a wealthy
alliance. Thank God! father never saw the letter, as he died
suddenly, before he knew how sore a wound I had received. Nor did
I ever show the letter to Mr. Fleetwood, for my father had trained
me too well to sow dissension between parents and son.
"An aunt took me to her home. She was a kindhearted old lady, but
very matter-of-fact and wholly engrossed in her housekeeping, and
I told her nothing. I waited till Mr. Fleetwood sought me out,
which he soon did. I saw that his family were moving heaven and
earth to break off his engagement with me, and it evidently pained
him deeply that he must so greatly disappoint his parents. But
the consideration that weighed most with him was this: they urged
upon him in every possible way that hopes had been raised in the
heart of the young lady herself, and although he was always very
reticent in regard to her.
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