a
youth of your own age--this gentleman is of grave years and character,
which makes a great difference."

"I should think it did."

"What makes you shiver and shake so, my dear? Are you cold or nervous?
Poor child, you got no sleep last night. Do you drink that cup of tea,
my dear. You need it more than I do."

"No, no."

"Why, what is the matter with my fairy?"

"Oh, mother, mother, don't take sides against me! don't! or you will
drive me to my ruin. Who will take a child's part, if her mother don't?
I love you best of all the world, mother. Do not takes sides against me!
take my part! help me to be true! to be true!"

"True to whom, Jacquelina? What are you talking about?"

"True to this heart--to this heart, mother! to all that is honest and
good in my nature."

"I don't understand you at all."

"Oh, mother, the thought of marrying anybody is unwelcome to me now; and
the idea of being married to Grim is abhorrent; is like that of being
sold to a master that I hate, or sent to prison for life; it is full of
terror and despair. Oh! oh!--"

"Don't talk so wildly, Jacquelina, you make me ill."

"Do I, Mimmy? Oh, I didn't mean to worry you. Bear up, Mimmy; do try to
bear up; don't fear; suppose he does turn me out. I am but a little
girl, and food and clothing are cheap enough in the country, and any of
our neighbors will take me in just for the fun I'll make them. La! yes,
that they will, just as gladly as they will let in the sunshine."

"Oh, child, how little you know of the world. Yes, for a day or two, or
a week or two, scarcely longer. And even if you could find a home, who
would give shelter to your poor, sick mother for the rest of her life?"

"Mother! uncle would never deny you shelter upon my account!" exclaimed
Jacquelina, growing very pale.

"Indeed he will, my child; he has; he came in here last night and warned
me to pack up and leave the house."

"He will not dare--even he, so to outrage humanity and public opinion
and everything he ought to respect."

"My child, he will. He has set his heart upon making Nace Grimshaw his
successor at Luckenough, that if you disappoint him in this darling
purpose, there will be no limit to his rage and his revenge. And he will
not only send us from his roof, but he will seek to justify himself and
further ruin us by blackening our names. Your wildness and eccentricity
will be turned against us and so distorted and misrepresented as to ruin
us forever."