afraid of giving way, which must have befallen me
without relief of words; and being so much disturbed I may, in the cab,
have rushed off for comfort to the Major, sitting so close to me. No
doubt I did so, from what happened afterward; but in the morning, after
such a night, I really could not be certain what I had said to Betsy,
and what to him.

A large mind would have been steady throughout, and regarded the
question of birth as a thing to which we, who are not consulted about
it, should bear ourselves indifferently. And gladly would I have done
so, if I could, but the power was not in me. No doubt it served me right
for having been proud about such a trifle; but though I could call it a
trifle as long as it seemed to be in my favor, my strength of mind was
not enough to look at it so when against me.

Betsy told me not to be like that, for I had a great deal to go through
yet, and must not be drawing on my spirit so, every atom of which would
be needful. For the General--as she called the Major--was coming to
fetch me at eleven o'clock to face some abominable rascals, and without
any breakfast how could I do it? Then I remembered all about the
appointment to go to Messrs. Vypan, Goad, and Terryer, and beginning to
think about them, I saw sad confirmation of my bad ideas. My father's
wicked elder brother by another mother had left his own rights pending,
as long as my father lived, for good reason. For if the latter had
turned against him, through a breach of compact, things might go ill in
a criminal court; but having him silenced now by death, this man might
come forward boldly and claim estates and title. His first point would
be to make sure as sure could be of the death of my father, to get hold
of his private papers, and of me, who might possess dangerous knowledge.
And if this were so, one could understand at once Mr. Goad's attempt
upon Uncle Sam.

"Now none of this! none of this, I say, Erema!" Major Hockin exclaimed,
as he ran in and saw me scarcely even caring to hold my own with the
gentle Maximilian--to which name Mr. Strouss was promoted from the too
vernacular "Hans." "My dear, I never saw you look ill before. Why, bless
my heart, you will have crows'-feet! Nurse, what are you doing with her?
Look at her eyes, and be ashamed of yourself. Give her goulard, tisane,
tiffany--I never know what the proper word is--something, any thing,
volatile Sally, hartshorn, ammonia, aromatic vinegar, saline draught