His Grace — page 68: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

62 HIS GRACE. decided in obedience to the dictates of my conscience, and I replied that he might safely do so. It is, I hope, needless to say that I no more intended my sister to enter that Home than I intended her to espouse our saintly pastor; but my half-formed res- olution was to some extent modified when I re-entered the house, where I found Lady Deverell seated with Nora, and was informed of an alternative project to which I felt bound to agree, although I own that I did so with some reluctance. “Tt is all settled,” Lady Deverell told me in benevo- lent, authoritative accents; ‘‘ Nora is to come to me at Fern Hill as soon as you leave and to stay with me until she marries. I shall be very pleased to have her, and I think I can answer for it that Mr. Burgess will approve of her remaining in the parish. Mr. Burgess is so good and so disinterested a man that he will be sure to be pleased with what pleases her, so long as that does not conflict with his strong sense of duty.” What could I say? It was certainly kind of Lady Deverell to give such an invitation; Nora was evidently eager to accept it, and some little time must in all probability elapse before I could offer my sister the shelter of a roof of my own. I endeavored, therefore, to appear grateful and gracious ; but I believe I have already mentioned that I am a clumsy creature, and perhaps my inability to swallow down the bread of charity without making a wry face over it was not con- cealed from our patroness. At all events, she did not make me look more pleasant (but possibly it was not. her wish to do that), by saying she had heard upon trustworthy authority that the Duke of Hurstbourne Eomichoo .S (E(@) m