more natural than that he should marry my housekeeper's
daughter--'twas a very suitable match!' continues Madam, taking snuff.
'But I confess,' she adds, going on, 'I was not aware that you intended
to jilt the apothecary for my son!'

"'Peace, for Heaven's sake, peace, Mr. Warrington!' cries my angel.

"'Pray, sir, before you fully make up your mind, had you not better look
round the rest of my family?' says Madam. 'Dinah is a fine tall girl,
and not very black; Cleopatra is promised to Ajax the blacksmith, to
be sure; but then we could break the marriage, you know. If with an
apothecary, why not with a blacksmith? Martha's husband has run away,
and----'

"Here, dear brother, I own I broke out a-swearing. I can't help it; but
at times, when a man is angry, it do relieve him immensely. I'm blest,
but I should have gone wild, if it hadn't been for them oaths.

"'Curses, blasphemy, ingratitude, disobedience,' says mother, leaning
now on her tortoiseshell stick, and then waving it--something like a
queen in a play. 'These are my rewards!' says she. 'O Heaven, what have
I done, that I should merit this awful punishment? and does it please
you to visit the sins of my fathers upon me? Where do my children
inherit their pride? When I was young, had I any? When my papa bade me
marry, did I refuse? Did I ever think of disobeying? No, sir. My fault
hath been, and I own it, that my love was centred upon you, perhaps to
the neglect of your elder brother.' (Indeed, brother, there was some
truth in what Madam said.) 'I turned from Esau, and I clung to Jacob.
And now I have my reward, I have my reward! I fixed my vain thoughts on
this world, and its distinctions. To see my son advanced in worldly rank
was my ambition. I toiled, and spared, that I might bring him worldly
wealth. I took unjustly from my eldest son's portion, that my younger
might profit. And oh! that I should see him seducing the daughter of my
own housekeeper under my own roof, and replying to my just anger with
oaths and blasphemies!'

"'I try to seduce no one, madam,' I cried out. 'If I utter oaths and
blasphemies, I beg your pardon; but you are enough to provoke a saint to
speak 'em. I won't have this young lady's character assailed--no, not by
own mother nor any mortal alive. No, dear Miss Mountain! If Madam Esmond
chooses to say that my designs on you are dishonourable,--let this
undeceive her!' And, as I spoke, I went down on my knees, seizing my
adorable Fa