How I looked while these ideas were taking my spirit by storm, I

cannot tell; but I perceived soon that Mr. Rivers had placed a chair

behind me, and was gently attempting to make me sit down on it. He

also advised me to be composed; I scorned the insinuation of

helplessness and distraction, shook off his hand, and began to walk

about again.

"Write to Diana and Mary to-morrow," I said, "and tell them to come

home directly. Diana said they would both consider themselves rich

with a thousand pounds, so with five thousand they will do very

well."

"Tell me where I can get you a glass of water," said St. John; "you

must really make an effort to tranquillise your feelings."

"Nonsense! and what sort of an effect will the bequest have on you?

Will it keep you in England, induce you to marry Miss Oliver, and

settle down like an ordinary mortal?"

"You wander: your head becomes confused. I have been too abrupt in

communicating the news; it has excited you beyond your strength."

"Mr. Rivers! you quite put me out of patience: I am rational

enough; it is you who misunderstand, or rather who affect to

misunderstand."

"Perhaps, if you explained yourself a little more fully, I should

comprehend better."

"Explain! What is there to explain? You cannot fail to see that

twenty thousand pounds, the sum in question, divided equally between

the nephew and three nieces of our uncle, will give five thousand to

each? What I want is, that you should write to your sisters and

tell them of the fortune that has accrued to them."

"To you, you mean."

"I have intimated my view of the case: I am incapable of taking any

other. I am not brutally selfish, blindly unjust, or fiendishly

ungrateful. Besides, I am resolved I will have a home and

connections. I like Moor House, and I will live at Moor House; I

like Diana and Mary, and I will attach myself for life to Diana and

Mary. It would please and benefit me to have five thousand pounds;

it would torment and oppress me to have twenty thousand; which,

moreover, could never be mine in justice, though it might in law. I

abandon to you, then, what is absolutely superfluous to me. Let

there be no opposition, and no discussion about it; let us agree

amongst each other, and decide the point at once."

"This is acting on first impulses; you must take days to consider

such a matter, ere your word can be regarded as valid."




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