'
'If I can,' said Emily.
'You can be capable of self-command, I hope,' said my mother
severely, 'or you do not deserve to be called a friend.'
Such speeches might not be pleasant, but they were bracing, and we
all withdrew to leave the elders to talk it over together, when, as
I believe, kind Parson Frank was chiefly concerned to argue my
parents out of their shame and humiliation.
Clarence told us what he knew or guessed; and we afterwards
understood the matter to have come about chiefly through poor
Griff's weakness of character, and love of amusement and flattery.
The boyish flirtation with Selina Clarkson had never entirely died
away, though it had been nothing more than the elder woman's
bantering patronage and easy acceptance of the youth's equally gay,
jesting admiration. It had, however, involved some raillery on his
attachment to the little Methodistical country girl, and this
gradually grew into jealousy of her--especially as Griff became more
of a man, and a brilliant member of society. The detention from the
funeral had been a real victory on the widow's part, and the few
times when Clarence had seen them together he had been dismayed at
the cavaliere serviente terms on which Griff seemed to stand; but
his words of warning were laughed down. The rest was easy to
gather. He had gone about on the round of visits almost as an
appendage to Lady Peacock, till they came to a free and easy house,
where her coquetry and love of admiration brought on one of those
disputes which rendered his championship needful; and such defence
could only have one conclusion, especially in Scotland, where hasty
private marriages were still legal.
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