At the same time, he knew her too well to expect from her
intellectual companionship, and would be quite content with what she
could give.
They were both of them chastened and elevated in tone by their five
years' discipline.
The night before the party went down to Belforest, where they were to
meet the Evelyns, Allen lingered with his mother after all the rest
had gone upstairs.
"Mother," he said, "I have thought a great deal of that dream of
yours. I hope that the touch of Midas may not be baneful this time."
"I trust not, my dear; you have had a taste of the stern, rugged
nurse."
"And, mother, I know I failed egregiously where the others rose."
"But you were rising."
"Then you will let me do nothing for you, and I feel myself sneaking
into your inheritance, to the exclusion of all the rest, in a back-
door sort of way."
"My dear Allen, it can't be helped, you have honestly loved your Elf
from her infancy, when she had nothing, and she really loved you at
the very worst. Love is so much more than gold, that it really
signifies very little which of you has the money. You and she have
both gone through a good deal, and it depends upon you now whether
the possession becomes a blessing to yourselves and others. Don't
vex about our not having a share, you know yourself how much happier
we all are without the load, and there will never be any anxiety now.
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