mother—nay, frown not—has been the cause of ruining her fortunes, and not hers only, but those of your other niece, little expecting and as little deserving to find in their aunt envy of their happiness, enmity against their peace.
"For my own part, and that of my wife, we may place ourselves above it; but for those dear objects of our continual solicitude, to see them, whilst rising into maturity and favour and merited admiration, so early subjected to the frowns of oppression and contumely of the world, makes my heart bleed! And if to have laid waste the prospects of my unoffending children be now a subject of triumph, I pray that such unnatural exultation may speedily turn to remorse of conscience and self-upbraidings for the unworthiest, most unlooked for, and most unpardonable cruelty."
Big with indignant feeling, Mrs. Arden heard her brother vent against her the bitterness of his soul, when, endeavouring to modify the tone of her voice, as she had before successfully moderated that of her agitated feelings, she replied: "Brother, forbear your reproaches, let me beseech you; you will find it more reasonable to do so, when I assure you the conduct you so vehemently complain of has been adopted by the express injunctions of my father, who has forbidden me, under pain of his
