Then came a month or two of misery, the tender clinging nature of the
girl being averse to detach itself from either of these two persons. She
loved them both with an affection she could have so easily reconciled,
if they would only have allowed her.

And it all ended according to Nature. She came of age, plucked up a
spirit, and married Mr. James Little.

Her brother declined to be present at the wedding; but, as soon as she
returned from her tour, and settled in Hillsborough, he sent his groom
with a cold, civil note, reminding her that their father had settled
nineteen hundred pounds on her, for her separate use, with remainder to
her children, if any; that he and Mr. Graham were the trustees of this
small fund; that they had invested it, according to the provisions of
the settlement, in a first mortgage on land; and informing her that half
a year's interest at 4 12 per cent was due, which it was his duty to
pay into her own hand and no other person's; she would therefore oblige
him by receiving the inclosed check, and signing the inclosed receipt.

The receipt came back signed, and with it a few gentle lines, "hoping
that, in time, he would forgive her, and bestow on her what she needed
and valued more than money; her own brother's, her only brother's
affection."

On receiving this, his eyes were suddenly moist, and he actually
groaned. "A lady, every inch!" he said; "yet she has gone and married a
bricklayer."

Well, blood is thicker than water, and in a few years they were pretty
good friends again, though they saw but little of one another, meeting