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Tales & Novels, Vol. 2 by Maria Edgeworth
Book, page 351 / 468


that she is incapable of envy and jealousy.

In consequence of these reflections, Mason determined he would apply
diligently to his business, that he might in due time be able to marry
and support Patty. She ingenuously told him she had never seen the man
she could love so well as himself; but that her first object was to earn
some money, to release her father from the almshouse, where she could
not bear to see him living upon charity. "When, amongst us all, we have
accomplished this," said she, "it will be time enough for me to think of
marrying. Duty first and love afterwards."

Mason loved her the better, when he found her so steady in her gratitude
to her father; for he was a man of sense, and knew that so good a
daughter and sister would, in all probability, make a good wife.

We must now give some account of what Fanny has been doing all this
time. Upon her return to Mrs. Hungerford's, after the death of her
brother, she was received with the greatest kindness by her mistress,
and by all the children, who were really fond of her; though she had
never indulged them in anything that was contrary to their mother's
wishes.

Mrs. Hungerford had not forgotten the affair of the kettle-drum. One
morning she said to her little son, "Gustavus, your curiosity about the
kettle-drum and the clarionet shall be satisfied: your cousin Philip
will come here in a few days, and he is well acquainted with the colonel
of the regiment which is quartered in Monmouth: he shall ask the colonel
to let us have the band here, some day. We may have them at the farthest
end of the garden; and you and your brothers and sisters shall dine in
the arbour, with Fanny, who upon this occasion particularly deserves to
have a share in your amusement."

The cousin Philip, of whom Mrs. Hungerford spoke, was no other than
Frankland's landlord, young Mr. Folingsby. Besides liking fine horses
and fine curricles, this gentleman was a great admirer of fine women.

He was struck with Fanny's beauty the first day he came to Mrs.
Hungerford's: every succeeding day he thought her handsomer and
handsomer; and every day grew fonder and fonder of playing with his
little cousins. Upon some pretence or other, he contrived to be

 
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