"Mother! mother! he is not so wicked as that."

"He is furious in his temper and violent in his impulses--he will do all
that under the influence of disappointment and passion, however he may
afterwards repent his injustice. You must not disappoint him,
Jacquelina."

"I disappoint him? Why, Mimmy, Luckenough does not belong to me. And if
he wants Grim to be his successor, why, as I have heard aunty ask him,
does he not make him his heir?"

"There are reasons, I suspect, my dear, why he cannot do so. I think he
holds the property by such a tenure, that he cannot alienate it from the
family. And the only manner in which he can bestow it upon Dr. Grimshaw,
will be through his wife, if the doctor should marry some relative."

"That is it, hey? Well! I will not be made a sumpter-mule to carry this
rich gift over to Dr. Grimshaw--even if there is no other way of
conveyance. Mother! what is the reason the professor is such a favorite
with uncle?"

"My dear, I don't know, but I have often had my suspicions."

"Of what, Mimmy?"

"Of a very near, though unacknowledged relationship; don't question me
any further upon that particular point, my dear, for I really know
nothing whatever about it. Oh, dear." And the invalid groaned and turned
over.

"Mother, you are very weak; mother, please to take some tea; let me go
get you some hot."

"Tell me, Jacquelina; will you do as the old man wishes you?"

"I will tell you after you take some refreshments," said Jacquelina.

"Well! go bring me some."

The girl went and brought more hot tea and toast, and waited until her
mother had drunk the former and partaken of a morsel of the latter.
When, in answer to the eager, inquiring look, she said:

"Mother, if I alone were concerned, I would leave this house this
moment, though I should never have another roof over my head. But for
your sake, mother, I will still fight the battle. I will try to turn
uncle from his purpose. I will try to awaken Grim's generosity, if he
has any, and get him to withdraw his suit. I will get aunty to use her
influence with both of them, and see what can be done. But as for
marrying Dr. Grimshaw, mother--I know what I am saying--I would rather
die!"

"And see me die, my child?"

"Oh, mother! it will not be so bad as that."

"Jacquelina, it will. Do you know what is the meaning of these afternoon
fevers and night sweats and this cough?"

"I know it means that you are very much out of health, M