u are married. No entreaties
can prevent, and no repentance can avail. Oh, what a sorrow to darken
all the rest of father's and mother's days! What right have you to spoil
their lives, in order to give yourself a little pleasure? O Harry! I
never knew that you were selfish before."

"I deserve all you say, Charley, but I loved Beatrice so much."

"Are you sure, even of that excuse? I heard you vow that you loved Eliza
Pierson 'so much,' and Fanny Ulloch 'so much,' and Emily Beverley 'so
much.' Why did you not come home, and speak to me before it was too
late? Why come at all now?"

"Because I want to talk to you about money. I have sold out."

"Sold out? Is there any more bad news? Do you know what father paid for
your commission? Do you know how it hampered him to do it? that, in
fact, he has never been quite easy about ready money since?"

"I had to sell out. Did I not tell you that Beatrice could not live in
this climate? She was very ill when she returned to Italy. Signor Lanza
was in great trouble about her."

"Signor Lanza? Her brother, I suppose."

"You suppose wrong. He is her father."

"For her, then, you have given up your faith, your country, your home,
your profession, every thing that other men hold dear and sacred. Do you
expect father to support you? Or is your wife to sing in Italy?"

"I think you are trying how disagreeable you can be, Charlotte."

"I am asking you honest questions in honest words."

"I have the money from the sale of my commission."

"It does not then strike you as dishonorable to keep it?"

"No, father gave me it."

"It appears to me, that if money was taken from the estate, let us say
to stock a sheep-walk, and it was decided after three years' trial to
give up the enterprise, and sell the sheep, that the money would
naturally go back to the estate. When you came of age, father made you a
very generous allowance. After a time you preferred that he should
invest a large sum in a military commission for you; and you proposed to
live upon your pay,--a thing you never have even tried to do. Suddenly,
you find that the commission will not suit your more recent plans, and
you sell it. Ought not the money to go back to the estate, and you to
make a fresh arrangement with father about your allowance? That is my
idea."

"Foolishness! And pray what allowance would my father make me, after the
marriage I have contracted?"

"Now, you show your secret heart, Harry. You know you