ess. I wish to become a mediator and pacificator in the family. As
for myself, I care not about property; I wish to marry the girl I love.
I am not, I trust, a selfish man--God forbid I should; but for the
present"--another squeeze--"let me entreat you all to forget this little
breeze; urge nothing, precipitate nothing; a little time, perhaps, if
we have patience to wait, may restore us all, and everything else we are
quarrelling about, to peace and happiness. Charles, I wish to have some
conversation with you."

"Harry," said Lindsay, "I am glad you have spoken as you did; your words
do you credit, and your conduct is manly and honorable."

"I do believe, indeed," said his unsuspecting brother, "that the best
thing we could all do would be to put ourselves under his guidance; as
for my part I am perfectly willing to do so, Harry. After hearing the
good sense you have just uttered, I think you are entitled to every
confidence from us all."

"You overrate my abilities, Charles; but not, I hope, the goodness of an
affectionate heart that loves you all. Charles, come with me for a few
minutes; and, mother, do you also expect a private lecture from me by
and by."

"Well," said the mother, "I suppose I must. If I were only spoken to
kindly I could feel as kindly; however, let there be an end to this
quarrel as the boy says, and I, as well as Charles, shall be guided by
his advice."

"Now, Charles," said he, when they had gone to another room, "you know
what kind! of a woman my mother is; and the truth is, until matters get
settled, we will have occasion for a good, deal of patience with her;
let us, therefore, exercise it. Like most hot-tempered women, she has
a bad memory, and wrests the purport of words too frequently to a wrong
meaning. In the account she gave you of what occurred between Alice
Goodwin and me, she entirely did."

"But what did occur between Alice Goodwin and you, Harry?"

"A very few words will tell it. She admitted that there certainly has
been an attachment between you and her, but--that--that--I will
not exactly repeat her words, although I don't say they were meant
offensively; but it amounted, to this, that she now filled a different
position in the eyes of the world; that she would rather the matter
were not renewed; that if her mind had changed, she had good reason for
justifying the change; and when I, finding that I had no chance myself,
began to plead for you, she hinted to me that, in c