The Land Claim — page 118: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

114 THE LAND-CLAIM. | She made no answer except to place her hands in his, gazing with an eager, wistful look in his face. Di she feel that it would have been hard for her, too? “Ts your resolution still unaltered, Alicia ?” “T must obey my father’s wishes.” ‘What your father wished while on earth you did obey. How do you know, dearest, that he would not now disapprove of the course which your submission forces you to follow? J believe he would.” “ Because I feel in my heart that he approves of me.” Allen leaned his head on his hand, and sighed heavily. He was trying to think she was right, but to him it could not seem right, and he struggled against his fate and hers, “ Darling,” he said, at last, “I don’t like to use hard words with you, but it does appear to me as if you had become a sort of monomaniac on this subject. I do not wonder at it, dear. The trials you have undergone, with your sensitive organization, are sufficient cause. Nevertheless, I can not bear to have it so—to see you made the victim of a morbid and false conviction of duty. There is no one, Alicia, who does not think as I do about the facts in the case; though seeing you so devoted to your idea; excites their admiration as well as their pity. Have I spoken too plainly, dear ?” “No, Frederick,” replied Alicia, with “tears in her voice,” “you have neither surprised nor offended me. Iam quite conscious of the opinions of others, and this is one of my trials. Ido not think it strange that people do not under- stand me—they could not.” | “You think J do not understand you, then?” asked Allen, a little hurt. ‘ “Dear Frederick,” said Alicia, placing her fair, slender ‘hand on his bowed head tenderly, “it is impossible you should know all my feelings and motives, for, little girl as you think me, I have motives not apparent to every one—not even to yourself.” “Tell me your motives, young lady, for refusing this young man; will you?” spoke a deep but pleasant voice at the door. The young people started to their feet in surprise and some confusion, to behold Mr. Mauvais and another gentleman, whom Allen immediately remembered seeing once before. comiclooolks. com