irm, as you may suppose, but,
I think, as clear in mind as I have ever known him. He sent for me
two months ago, as you will have heard from the letter I find he
caused to be written to you about the business which then occupied his
mind. My share in that business he would represent to you as it
appeared to him: but I must give you an account of it as it appears to
myself. He sent for me to take leave of me, as he said; but, in my
opinion, to receive my acknowledgments for his latest disposition of
his property by will. The new arrangements did not please me at all;
and I am confident that you would have liked them no better than I;
and I wished not a little that you were nearer, that we might have
acted together. I know that he once intended to divide his property
equally among us four; but of late, from some unaccountable feeling of
indifference about Emily and Anne, or, as is more likely, from some
notion about women not wanting money, and not knowing how to manage
it, he has changed his mind, and destined his money for you and me,
leaving my sisters only a hundred pounds each as a remembrance. He
informed me of this, as soon as I arrived. I thought him quite well
enough to hear reason, and I spoke my mind plainly to him. I had no
right to answer for you, any further than for your sense of Justice,
and your affection for your sisters. The way in which the matter was
settled at last, therefore, with great pains and trouble, was, that
you and our sisters share equally, and that I have the legacy of 100
pounds, which was destined for one of them. The reasons why I
declined a fourth part of the property were sufficient to my mind, and
will be so, I doubt not, to yours. Out of this property I have had my
professional education, while you and my sisters have received nothing
at all. This professional education has enabled me to provide
sufficiently for myself, so far, and this provision will in all
probability go on to increase; while my sisters want as much as can
fairly be put into their hands. Their husbands are not likely ever to
be rich men, and will probably be poor for some years to come. Their
children have to be educated; and in short, there is every reason why
Emily and Anne should have this money, and none why I should. I am
afraid the old gentleman is not very well pleased with my way of
receiving what he intended for kindness; b