Smirke," Mrs. Portman remarked: "why, poor
dear Mrs. Pendennis might be his mother almost."
"You always choose the most charitable reason, Betsy," cried the Rector.
"A matron with a son grown up--she would never think of marrying again."
"You only think men should marry again, Doctor Portman, answered his
lady, bridling up.
"You stupid old woman," said the Doctor, "when I am gone, you shall marry
whomsoever you like. I will leave orders in my will, my dear, to that
effect: and I'll bequeath a ring to my successor, and my Ghost shall come
and dance at your wedding."
"It is cruel for a clergyman to talk so," the lady answered, with a ready
whimper: but these little breezes used to pass very rapidly over the
surface of the Doctor's domestic bliss; and were followed by a great calm
and sunshine. The Doctor adopted a plan for soothing Mrs. Portman's
ruffled countenance, which has a great effect when it is tried between a
worthy couple who are sincerely fond of one another; and which, I think,
becomes 'John Anderson' at three-score, just as much as it used to do
when he was a black-haired young Jo of five-and-twenty.
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