She was as dear to me as if she were my sister, and I hesitated
bringing her to terrible Whitehall. But desperate conditions need
desperate remedies, so I determined to lay the matter before my uncle and
let him and my cousins decide the question for themselves.
With this object in view, one bright spring morning, I took horse at the
Leg Tavern in King Street, Westminster, and rode to Sundridge to spend a
few days with my uncle, hoping to interest my beautiful cousin in the
Duchess of York's announcement concerning the choice of her maids. I knew
that Sir Richard would protest against Frances's going to Whitehall, but
I hoped, with the help of my cousins, to override the old gentleman's
feeble will. While I saw clearly the dangers the girl would encounter; I
had faith in her strength, and felt sure the chances of making her
fortune were worth the risk. In other words, I was staking a human soul
which was infinitely dear to me, against wealth and station--a hundred to
one chance, even with the Fates smiling. When one considers how seldom
the long odds are taken and how often they win, one cannot help believing
that courage is the touchstone of Fortune; the criterion by which the
capricious Goddess measures her votaries and distributes her smiles.
I made my journey to Sundridge and arrived there in the afternoon near
the hour of three, finding my uncle and my cousin Sarah at home, but
Frances abroad.
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