Oh, how anxious were the ladies of the family to hear the result of this important meeting! The first congress of the sovereigns composing the holy alliance or spiritual conspiracy, did not excite a greater sensation in the hearts of European subjects or abjects, than did this meditated meeting in the study of Neverden rectory, between father and son, excite in the bosoms of Mrs and the Miss Darnleys. The meeting took place. The young man had the advantage of self-possession, a clear and definite object, and a fearlessness in the avowal and statement of it. The father had changed his mind repeatedly between the time of proposing the interview, and that of meeting his son. The rector of Neverden had previously made up his mind to silence; but not anticipating that the young man would break the silence, was not prepared with any set mode of conduct, or any definite reply to anything that might be said. The father had already perceived that the young man was resolute and decisive, therefore it was no easy matter to meet the resoluteness of actual power by the pompousness of an empty and bygone authority. Mr Darnley knew that his son would have his own way; and with all the austerity which the rector of Neverden could possibly assume, he entered upon the conference. The young gentleman very unaffectedly and calmly entered upon the subject, and respectfully said to his father: “It gives me great uneasiness, Sir, to observe that my acquaintance with Miss Primrose, which formerly was so pleasant and acceptable, should now be the means of throwing a damp over the spirits of all the family.” Mr Robert Darnley was in hopes that to this introduction his father would make some reply, explanatory of his reasons for having so pertinaciously frowned his disapprobation. But the rector was silent, and turned away his face and looked out at the window, as much as to intimate that he was perfectly indifferent to anything which the young gentleman might be pleased to say upon that topic. But this kind of procedure was not only disrespectful and unhandsome towards his son, but was not consistent with the respect which the reverend gentleman owed to himself. And Robert Darnley was now at an age to be treated like a rational and reflecting being, and it was by no means proper and decorous to behave towards him in this cavalier style. It is a great pity that many very good and virtuous men do sometimes so far forget themselves, as to yield more readily to the impulses of caprice, than to the sober dictates of judgment. And when in anything like a quarrel, dispute, or diversity of opinion, an elder gives way to improper feelings, he thereby loses so much of the natural dignity and advantage which age would otherwise have given him, and sinks to, or even below, the level of the younger.