Mary Seaham, Volume II by Mrs. Grey — Read

I never thought a life could be / So flung upon one hope, as mine, dear love, on thee. / N. P. WILLIS.

No sooner did old Mr. Majoribanks learn from the rector that he had / prevailed upon Mr. Temple to fix his residence amongst them, than he was / anxious to pay the stranger every possible attention and civility, / calling upon him to invite him to dinner, or do anything that might / contribute in any way to his comfort and happiness. But Mr. Wynne was / obliged to subdue this impulse of hospitality, making the good old / gentleman and his family to understand that Mr. Temple being driven, by / some heavy private affliction, to the alleviation of his sorrows by / solitude and seclusion, the kindest thing would be, for the present, / till the poignancy of his feelings should be softened by time, to / refrain as much as possible from crossing his wishes in this respect. / The inmates of Glan Pennant, in the most delicate manner, respected and / carried out these instructions; so that, by some gentle and gradual / attraction, rather than by any outward effort on their part, did the / recluse seem finally drawn towards them in more close and intimate / communication; till finally, he became not only, as at first -- the silent / and secret minister to all those little schemes of charity and / benevolence the young ladies had so much at heart -- but also their / personal assistant and supporter.