"My brother's bond will be of no use to me; I shall never go to law
with my brother."

"Well, then, what will satisfy you?"

"I am easily satisfied, brother. I am contented with things just as
they are. The sum, indeed, is a trifle, but it will answer all my humble
purposes."

"Then you will," replied he, struggling with his rage, "you will not
agree?"

My silence was an unequivocal answer.

"You turn out to be what I always thought you,--a little, perverse,
stupid, obstinate--But take time;" (softening his tone a little;) "take
time to consider of it.

"Some unaccountable oddity, some freak, must have taken hold of you
just now and turned your wits out of door. 'Tis impossible you should
deliberately reject such an offer. Why, girl, three thousand dollars has a
great sound, perhaps, to your ears, but you'll find it a most wretched
pittance if you should ever be obliged to live upon it. The interest would
hardly buy you garters and topknots. You live, at this moment, at the rate
of six times the sum. You are now a wretched and precarious dependant on
Mrs. Fielder: her marriage (a very likely thing for one of her habits,
fortune, and age) will set you afloat in the world; and then where will be
your port? Your legacy, in any way you can employ it, will not find you
bread. Three times the sum might answer, perhaps; and that, if you will
fall on my advice, you may now attain in a single twelvemonth. Consider