ride over to Beech Grove and pay a visit to the Goodwins. There were
none in the room at the time but Charles and his mother. The former
started, and seemed uneasy at this intelligence; and his mother, having
considered for a time, said: "Charles, I wish to speak to Harry."
Charles took the hint, and left the mother and son to the following
dialogue:--

"Harry," said she, "you spoke very warmly of that cunning serpent who
defrauded you of your inheritance, and all of us out of our right. May
I ask for what purpose you wish to cultivate an intimacy with such a
scheming and dishonest crew as that?"

"Faith, mother, to tell you the truth, you don't detest them, nor feel
the loss of the property more than I do; but the truth is, that the game
I wish to play with them will be a winning one, if I can induce them
to hold the cards. I wish to get the property, and as I feel that that
can't be done without marrying their milk-and-curd of a daughter, why,
it is my intention to marry her accordingly."

"Then you don't marry a wife to be happy with her?"

"In one sense not I--in another I do; I shall make myself happy with her
property."

"Indeed, Harry, to tell you the truth, there is very little happiness in
married life, and they are only fools that expect it. You see how I am
treated by Lindsay and my own children."

"Well, but you provoke them--why disturb yourself with them? Why not
pass through life as quietly as you can? Imitate Lindsay."