9/16 He had so few with whom to sympathize that he could not afford to be cut off from the one whose sympathy was of the most value to him. And yet it seemed probable that this would be the case. He did not own to himself that he wished his daughter to hate Mr.Slope, yet had she expressed such a feeling there would have been very little bitterness in the rebuke he would have given her for so uncharitable a state of mind. The fact, however, was that she was on friendly terms with Mr.Slope, that she coincided with his views, adhered at once to his plans, and listened with delight to his teaching. Mr.Harding hardly wished his daughter to hate the man, but he would have preferred that to her loving him. |