Then I made
up my mind. I will never ask him for anything again, or expect
anything from him. It would not be natural now. We must be very
happy together, and we must not seem to depend upon his forgiveness.
And Morris, Morris, you must never despise me!"
This was an easy promise to make, and Morris made it with fine
effect. But for the moment he undertook nothing more onerous.
CHAPTER XXVII
The Doctor, of course, on his return, had a good deal of talk with
his sisters. He was at no great pains to narrate his travels or to
communicate his impressions of distant lands to Mrs. Penniman, upon
whom he contented himself with bestowing a memento of his enviable
experience, in the shape of a velvet gown. But he conversed with her
at some length about matters nearer home, and lost no time in
assuring her that he was still an inflexible father.
"I have no doubt you have seen a great deal of Mr. Townsend, and done
your best to console him for Catherine's absence," he said. "I don't
ask you, and you needn't deny it. I wouldn't put the question to you
for the world, and expose you to the inconvenience of having to--a--
excogitate an answer. No one has betrayed you, and there has been no
spy upon your proceedings. Elizabeth has told no tales, and has
never mentioned you except to praise your good looks and good
spirits. The thing is simply an inference of my own--an induction,
as the philosophers say.
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