There was but one thing would
have made it impossible for Donal to remain--interference, namely,
between him and his pupil.
Forgue did not argue with his father. He had given that up. At the
same time, if he had told all that had passed between him and Donal,
the earl would have confessed he had advised an impossibility.
Forgue took a step in a very different direction: he began to draw
to himself the good graces of Miss Carmichael: he did not know how
little she could serve him. Without being consciously insincere, she
flattered him, and speedily gained his confidence. Well descended on
the mother-side, she had grown up fit, her father said, to adorn any
society: with a keen appreciation of the claims and dignities of the
aristocracy, she was well able to flatter the prejudices she
honoured and shared in. Careful not to say a word against his
cousin, she made him feel more and more that his chief danger lay in
the influence of Donal. She fanned thus his hatred of the man who
first came between him and his wrath; next, between him and his
"love;" and last, between him and his fortunes.
If only Davie would fall ill, and require change of air! But Davie
was always in splendid health!
Now that he saw himself in such danger of failing, he fancied
himself far more in love with Arctura than he was. And as he got
familiarized with the idea of his illegitimacy, although he would
not assent to it, he made less and less of it--which would have been
a proof to any other than himself that he believed it.
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