"Uncle, this will not do for me. Either you sanction, or you do not. You
mean something by that word _pretensions_ which I am yet to understand;
my name is Colleton, like your own, and--"

There was a stern resolve in the countenance of the colonel, which spoke
of something of the same temper with his impetuous nephew, and the cool
and haughty sentence which fell from his lips in reply, while arresting
that of the youth, was galling to the proud spirit of the latter, whom
it chafed nearly into madness.

"Why, true, Ralph, such is your name indeed; and your reference to this
subject now, only reminds me of the too free use which my brother made
of it when he bestowed it upon a woman so far beneath him and his family
in all possible respects."

"There again, sir, there again! It is my mother's poverty that pains
you. She brought my father no dowry. He had nothing of that choice
prudence which seems to have been the guide of others, of our family in
the bestowment of their affections. He did not calculate the value of
his wife's income before he suffered himself to become enamored of her.
I see it, sir--I am not ignorant."

"If I speak with you calmly, Ralph, it is because you are the indweller
of my house, and because I have a pledge to my brother in your behalf."

"Speak freely, sir; let not this scruple trouble you any longer. It
shall not trouble me; and I shall be careful to take early occasion to
release you most effectually from all such pledges."