He could do
what as a woman she could not accomplish, and what her brothers were
not attempting.
In that conviction, nay, even expecting her mother to be satisfied
with his charms and his qualifications, she claimed that he might at
least read the MS. of the book, assuring her mother that all she had
intended the night before was to copy out the essentials for him.
"To take the spirit and leave me the letter?" said Caroline. "O
Janet, would not that have been worse than carrying off the book?"
"Well, mother, I maintain that I have a right to it," said Janet,
"and that there is no justice in withholding it."
"Do you or your husband fulfil these conditions Janet?" and Caroline
read from the white slate those words about the one to whom the
pursuit was intrusted being a sound, religious man, who would not
seek it for his own advancement but for the good of others.
Janet exultantly said that was just what Demetrius would do. As to
the being a sound religious man, her mother might seek in vain for a
man of real ability who held those old-fashioned notions. They were
very well in her father's time, but what would Bobus say to them?
She evidently thought Demetrius would triumph in his private
interview with her mother, but if Caroline had had any doubt before,
that would have removed it.
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