and a desire to better understand the character of this accidental
acquaintance of Emily's.
Mr. Benfield and the baronet had a long conversation in relation to
Denbigh's fortune the morning after their arrival; and the old man was
loud in his expression of dissatisfaction at the youngster's pride. As
the baronet, however, in the fulness of his affection and simplicity,
betrayed to his uncle his expectation of a union between Denbigh and his
daughter, Mr. Benfield became contented with this reward; one fit, he
thought, for any services. On the whole, "it was best, as he was to
marry Emmy, he should sell out of the army; and as there would be an
election soon, he would bring him into parliament--yes--- yes--it did a
man so much good to sit one term in the parliament of this realm--to
study human nature. All his own knowledge in that way was raised on the
foundations laid in the House." To this Sir Edward cordially assented,
and the gentlemen separated, happy in their arrangements to advance the
welfare of two beings they so sincerely loved.
Although the care and wisdom of Mrs. Wilson had prohibited the admission
of any romantic or enthusiastic expectations of happiness into the day-
dreams of her charge, yet the buoyancy of health, of hope, of youth, of
innocence, had elevated Emily to a height of enjoyment hitherto unknown
to her usually placid and disciplined pleasures. Denbigh certainly
mingled in most of her thoughts, both of the past and the future, and
she stood on the threshold of that fantastic edifice in which Jane
ordinarily resided. Emily was in the situation perhaps the most
dangerous to a young female Christian: her heart, her affections, were
given to a man, to appearance, every way worthy of possessing them, it
is true but she had admitted a rival in her love to her Maker; and to
keep those feelings distinct, to bend the passions in due submission to
the more powerful considerations of endless duty, of unbounded
gratitude, is one of the most trying struggles of Christian fortitude.
We are much more apt to forget our God in prosperity than adversity. The
weakness of human nature drives us to seek assistance in distress; but
vanity and worldly-mindedness often induce us to imagine we control the
happiness we only enjoy.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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