man, no; dislike, hate, menace me
as you will, I still feel I shall have no cause to dread the mere
wantonness of your revenge."

These words, aided by a tone of voice, and an expression of countenance
that gave them perhaps their chief effect, took even the hardened nature
of Houseman by surprise; he was affected by an emotion which he could
not have believed it possible the man who till then had galled him by
the humbling sense of inferiority, could have created. He extended his
hand to Aram.

"By--," he exclaimed, with an oath which we spare the reader, "you
are right! you have made me as helpless in your hands, as an infant.
I accept your offer--if I were to refuse it, I should be driven to the
same courses I now pursue. But look you; I know not what may be the
amount of the annuity you can raise. I shall not, however, require more
than will satisfy wants, which, if not so scanty as your own, are not at
least very extravagant or very refined. As for the rest, if there be any
surplus, in God's name keep it for yourself, and rest assured that, so
far as I am concerned, you shall be molested no more."

"No, Houseman," said Aram, with a half smile, "you shall have all I
first mentioned; that is, all beyond what nature craves, honourably and
fully. Man's best resolutions are weak: if you knew I possessed aught
to spare, a fancied want, a momentary extravagance might tempt you to
demand it. Let us put ourselves beyond the possible reach of temptation.
But do not flatter yourself by the hope that the income will be
magnificent. My own annuity is but trifling, and the half of the dowry
I expect from my future father-in-law, is all that I can at present
obtain. The whole of that dowry is insignificant as a sum. But if this
does not suffice for you, I must beg or borrow elsewhere."

"This, after all, is a pleasanter way of settling business," said
Houseman, "than by threats and anger. And now I will tell you exactly
the sum on which, if I could receive it yearly, I could live without
looking beyond the pale of the Law for more--on which I could cheerfully
renounce England, and commence 'the honest man.' But then, hark you, I
must have half settled on my little daughter."

"What! have you a child?" said Aram eagerly, and well pleased to find an
additional security for his own safety.

"Ay, a little girl, my only one, in her eighth year; she lives with her
grandmother, for she is motherless, and that girl must not be left