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Butler, Samuel, 1835-1902

"The Way of All Flesh"

For the present, however, he was supremely so, and
his aunt was happy and grateful for his happiness, the improvement she
saw in him, and his unrepressed affection for herself. She became fonder
of him from day to day in spite of his many faults and almost incredible
foolishnesses. It was perhaps on account of these very things that she
saw how much he had need of her; but at any rate, from whatever cause,
she became strengthened in her determination to be to him in the place of
parents, and to find in him a son rather than a nephew. But still she
made no will.


CHAPTER XXXV

All went well for the first part of the following half year. Miss
Pontifex spent the greater part of her holidays in London, and I also saw
her at Roughborough, where I spent a few days, staying at the "Swan." I
heard all about my godson in whom, however, I took less interest than I
said I did. I took more interest in the stage at that time than in
anything else, and as for Ernest, I found him a nuisance for engrossing
so much of his aunt's attention, and taking her so much from London. The
organ was begun, and made fair progress during the first two months of
the half year.


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