this purpose, but he stopped me:--"Are you mad, girl? He does not know the
full extent of the evil. Indeed, the evil will be perfectly removed by
this trifling loan. He need not know it." "Ah! my poor father," said I,
"I see thy ruin indeed. Too fatally secure hast thou been; too doting in
thy confidence in others." These words, half articulated, did not escape
my brother. He was at once astonished and enraged by them, and even in
these circumstances could not suppress his resentment.

He had, however, conjured up a spirit in me which made me deaf to his
invective. I made towards the door.

"Where are you going? You shall not leave the room till you have signed
this paper."

'"Nothing but force shall keep me from my father. I will know his true
situation this instant, from his own lips. Let me go. I _will_
go."

I attempted to rush by him, but he shut the door and swore I should
not leave the room till I had complied with his request.

Perceiving me thoroughly in earnest, and indignant in my turn at his
treatment, he attempted to soothe me, by saying that I had misunderstood
him in relation to my father; that he had uttered words at random; that he
was really out of cash at this moment; I should inexpressibly oblige him
by lending him this trifling sum till to-morrow evening.

"Brother, I will deal candidly with you. You think me childish,
ignorant, and giddy. Perhaps I am so; but I have sense enough to resolve,
and firmness enough to adhere to my resolution, never to give money