Then they
wondered what Abel Lyons would do. He had been a humble suitor for
Adrianna for years, but her mother had not approved, and Adrianna,
who was dutiful, had repulsed him delicately and rather sadly. He
was the only lover whom she had ever had, and she felt sorry and
grateful; she was a plain, awkward girl, and had a patient
recognition of the fact.
But her mother was ambitious, more so than her father, who was
rather pugnaciously satisfied with what he had, and not easily
disposed to change. However, he yielded to his wife and consented
to sell out his business and purchase a house in Boston and move
there.
David Townsend was curiously unlike the line of ancestors from whom
he had come. He had either retrograded or advanced, as one might
look at it. His moral character was certainly better, but he had
not the fiery spirit and eager grasp at advantage which had
distinguished them. Indeed, the old Townsends, though prominent
and respected as men of property and influence, had reputations not
above suspicions. There was more than one dark whisper regarding
them handed down from mother to son in the village, and especially
was this true of the first Townsend, he who built the tavern
bearing the Sign of the Blue Leopard.
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