Only in addition he felt a furious jealousy of the man he was
going to see.
A residue of egoism remains in every affection--even paternal. And this
man in the seclusion of his prison had thought himself into such a sense
of ownership of that single human being he had to think about, as may
well be inconceivable to us who have not had to serve a long (and
wickedly unjust) sentence of penal servitude. She was positively the
only thing, the one point where his thoughts found a resting-place, for
years. She was the only outlet for his imagination. He had not much of
that faculty to be sure, but there was in it the force of concentration.
He felt outraged, and perhaps it was an absurdity on his part, but I
venture to suggest rather in degree than in kind. I have a notion that
no usual, normal father is pleased at parting with his daughter. No. Not
even when he rationally appreciates "Jane being taken off his hands" or
perhaps is able to exult at an excellent match. At bottom, quite deep
down, down in the dark (in some cases only by digging), there is to be
found a certain repugnance .
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