This is wisdom not to our taste. This was not the mode in which Mr Primrose manifested his affection for his daughter. But as he knew the good qualities, and could confide in the judgment of his late brother-in-law, and as he was satisfied that Dr Greendale would never have given his approbation to the acquaintance between Penelope and Robert Darnley, but on the best and soundest discretion, Mr Primrose considered that all security was thereby afforded that the acquaintance was suitable and proper. It is, indeed, possible that Mr Primrose might have found some points of objection even in Robert Darnley; but Mr Primrose was not affectedly fastidious. He recollected the candour and the virtues of his deceased relative, and he knew that there was no decisive proof either of wisdom or virtue in finding fault with everybody and everything. It seems very hard upon poor Penelope, that without any deviation from the path of duty, without any act of indiscretion or unsound judgment on her own part, she should be exposed to these successive and irritating annoyances. But fortunately for her the very circumstance that she had not brought her troubles upon herself by her own folly rendered these troubles comparatively innocuous. So she had much more fortitude and patience than might, under other circumstances, have fallen to her lot. Many days passed over and no intercourse was had with any of Mr Darnley’s family; and almost every day Mr Primrose expressed his own impatience, and wondered at his daughter’s patience. There were however occasionally a few notes from the rectory of Neverden, just enough to let Penelope know that she was not forgotten by him in whose memory she most anxiously wished to dwell. In the mean time the hours at Neverden passed heavily, and the family looked constrainedly and awkwardly one at another. Mr Darnley had, upon his return from Smatterton, and from visiting the poor man and his afflicted daughter, said very little upon the subject. The young ladies, hoping to find that he had met Penelope, asked him very particularly concerning poor old Fitzpatrick. And Mr Darnley replied very briefly; but we must do the gentleman the justice to say, that he spoke very respectfully of Miss Primrose; and the young ladies were delighted to hear him speak of her at all. Yet, notwithstanding all this, no progress was made; for though Mr Darnley was very liberal in his praises of the young lady, he still continued towards his son the same unaccountable reserve on the subject of matrimony. The young gentleman certainly did intend in the first instance to lead Penelope to the altar in spite of all that his father in the violence of his opposition might say to the contrary. But when Robert Darnley had seen the strong and violent objection which his father made, his confidence was a little abated and his resolution failed him.