'Doubtless,' said her father contemptuously, 'my _candid_ Cousin John found it so, and will find it so when Mr Atkinson's will is read and he sees his name is struck out. Leave me alone, child; you understand nothing of such things--you haven't the least idea of worldly wisdom.'
Thus was poor Lucy always repulsed when she attempted to advise. She could only comfort herself with the hope that one day perhaps her parents would think and act differently.
Mr Atkinson came the next day: he was a cheerful, pleasant-looking, silver-haired old man, and was cordial and affectionate to the whole family. Sincere and truthful himself, he was perfectly unsuspicious of deceit or design in others. Thus everything promised well for Mr Davenant's plan, more especially as the old man had rapidly become much attached to the two girls: Selina, with her liveliness and spirit, amused; and Lucy, gentle, and ever anxious for the comfort of all about her, interested him.
On the fourth day, therefore, Mr Davenant commenced operations. He alluded to a particular foreign railway, the shares of which were then much below par, but which were certain, at a future and no very distant period, to arrive at a considerable premium. He said that he would willingly invest L.5000 in these shares, certain that in a short time he should quadruple the sum, if it were not for the payment of his girls' marriage portions, for which he should soon be called on. And after a great deal of preparatory 'beating about the bush,' he _candidly_, as he said, asked his uncle if he would lend him this L.5000 for twelve months.
Mr Atkinson looked grave, which his nephew observing, _he_ looked grave also.
'You see, Samuel,' said the old man, 'if it were really to do you a service, you should have the money. If your _business_ required it--if you were in temporary embarrassment, and needed these thousands to help you out of it--_they should be yours_; but'----
He paused, and fixed his eyes on the ground in deep thought. Mr Davenant started, and coloured as he listened; and involuntarily he thought of poor Lucy's slighted advice. Her earnest words, 'Indeed--indeed--the _truth_ is the best and surest policy,' rung clearly in his ears, and he felt now that she was _right_: but it was too late now (or at least _he_ thought so) to repair his error, and return to the straight path. He had made a point, ever since his uncle's arrival, of boasting to him of his improved prospects, of the solid basis on which his fortune stood, and of the flourishing state of his business. He could not now retract all he had said, and lay bare his difficulties--his necessities. Besides, even now perhaps that would not be _prudent_: old Atkinson might be but _trying_ him after all. Mr Davenant's little moment of right feeling soon passed away, and he was, alas! 'himself again' by the time his uncle again began to speak.