place of heirs, and equally as attached to them, and as ambitious of their interests, as if they had sprung to him in direct succession, no bounds were set to the fortunes with which he wished to enrich them; unwarrantably aiming to grasp at that which, in justice, truth, and honour, ought to have descended through his wife to her own surviving relations.
In consequence of this ruling motive, it may be easily conceived he was never deficient in those arguments or persuasions that could in any way tend to influence Mrs. Arden in taking part with her father against her brother and his family. Thus, whenever the friendly feelings of benevolence and humanity gained admittance to her heart, he as instantly endeavoured to stifle them by an appeal, subtle and artful, such as, "And what would Sir Aubrey say? you surely would not wish to act in opposition to your father! see what he writes!" unfolding the letter ever at hand in his waistcoat pocket. "Have nothing to say to them, neither the daughters nor the mother; if you notice the one the other will come next."
"Never," hastily interrupted Mrs. Arden, "never shall I forget what I owe to my father with respect to Mrs. De B., or oppose his just resentment on the score of my brother's marriage. However,"
