Part 3 (1/2)

My father began to grow impatient:--”It is useless, Jane, to start difficulties and objections now. It is too late to go back, even if I were disinclined to go forward; and I have no doubt of ultimate success.

Be a good girl, and you shall come in for a share of the profit. Mrs.

Fielder and I, between us, will make you the richest heiress in America.

Let that consideration reconcile you to the scheme.”

I could not but smile at this argument. I well knew that my brother's rapacity was not to be satisfied with millions. To sit down and say, ”I have enough,” was utterly incompatible with his character. I dropped the conversation for the present.

My thoughts were full of uneasiness. The mere sound of the word ”project” alarmed me. I had little desire of knowing the exact nature of the scheme, being nowise qualified to judge of its practicability; but a scheme in which my brother was the agent, in which my father's whole property was hazarded, and which appeared, from the account I had just heard, at least not to have fulfilled the first expectations, could not be regarded with tranquillity.

I took occasion to renew the subject with my father, some time after this. I could only deal in general observations on the imprudence of putting independence and subsistence to hazard: though the past was not to be recalled, yet the future was his own, and it would not be unworthy of him to act with caution. I was obliged to mingle this advice with much foreign matter, and convey it in the most indirect and gentle terms. His pride was easily offended at being thought to want the counsel of a girl.

He replied to my remarks with confidence, that no further demand would be made upon him. The last sum was given with extreme reluctance, and nothing but the positive a.s.surance that it would absolutely be the last had prevailed with him.

”Suppose, sir,” said I, ”what you have already given should prove insufficient. Suppose some new demand should be made upon you.”

”I cannot suppose that, after so many solemn and positive a.s.surances.”

”But were not a.s.surances as positive and solemn on every former occasion as the last?”

”Why, yes, I must own they were; but new circ.u.mstances arose that could not be foreseen?”

”And, dear sir, may not new circ.u.mstances arise hereafter that could not be foreseen?”

”Nay, nay,” (with some impatience;) ”I tell you there cannot be any.”

I said no more on this subject at this time; but my father, notwithstanding the confidence he expressed, was far from being at ease.

One day I found him in great perturbation. I met my brother, who was going out as I entered, and suspected the cause of his disquiet. He spoke less than usual, and sighed deeply. I endeavoured, by various means, to prevail on him to communicate his thoughts, and at last succeeded. My brother, it seems, had made a new demand upon his purse, and he had been brought reluctantly to consent to raise the necessary sum by a mortgage on his house, the only real property he possessed. My brother had gone to procure a lender and prepare the deeds.

I was less surprised at this intelligence than grieved. I thought I saw my father's ruin was inevitable, and knew not how to prevent or procrastinate it. After a long pause, I ventured to insinuate that, as the thing was yet to be done, as there was still time for deliberation----

”No, no,” interrupted he; ”I must go on. It is too late to repent.

Unless new funds are supplied, all that we have hitherto done will go for nothing; and Frank a.s.sures me that one more sacrifice and all will be well.”

”Alas, sir, are you still deceived by that language? Can you still listen to a.s.surances which experience has so often shown to be fallacious?

I know nothing of this fine project; but I can see too clearly that unless you hold your hand you will be undone. Would to Heaven you would hesitate a moment!” I said a great deal more to the same purpose, and was at length interrupted by a message from my brother, who desired to see me a few minutes in the parlour below. Though at a loss as to what could occasion such an unusual summons, I hastened down.

I found my brother with a strange mixture of pride, perplexity, and solicitude in his looks. His ”how d'ye?” was delivered in a graver tone than common, and he betrayed a disposition to conciliate my good-will, far beyond what I had ever witnessed before. I waited with impatience to hear what he had to communicate.

At last, with many pauses and much hesitation, he said, ”Jane, I suppose your legacy is untouched. Was it two or three thousand Mrs.

Matthews put you down for in her will?”

”The sum was three thousand dollars. You know that, though it was left entirely at my own disposal, yet the bequest was accompanied with advice to keep it unimpaired till I should want it for my own proper subsistence.

On that condition I received, and on that condition shall keep it.”

”I am glad of it with all my heart,” replied he, with affected vivacity. ”I was afraid you had spent it by this time on dolls, trinkets, and baby-things. The sum is entire, you say? In your drawer? I am surprised you could resist the temptation to spend it. I wonder n.o.body thought of robbing you.”

”You cannot suppose, brother, I would keep that sum in my possession?