Also there was no direct and vital injury, for she had never loved him;
though how far she had travelled towards that land of light and trial she
could never now declare. These thoughts flashed through her mind as she
stood looking at her father. Her tongue seemed imprisoned, yet her soft
and candid eyes conquered the austerity in the old man's gaze.
Eglington spoke for her.
"Permit me to answer, neighbour," he said. "I wished to speak with your
daughter, because I am to be married soon, and my wife will, at
intervals, come here to live. I wished that she should not be shunned by
you and yours as I have been. She would not understand, as I do not.
Yours is a constant call to war, while all your religion is an appeal for
peace. I wished to ask your daughter to influence you to make it possible
for me and mine to live in friendship among you. My wife will have some
claims upon you. Her mother was an American, of a Quaker family from
Derbyshire. She has done nothing to merit your aversion."
Faith listened astonished and baffled.
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