of
her brother's imprisonment, and the nature of his debt.

She answered frankly and without hesitation:--"It is a debt of his
father's, for which he made himself responsible during his father's
life. The act was generous but imprudent, as the event has shown;
though, at the time, the unhappy effects could not be foreseen.

"My father," continued she, "was arrested by his creditor, at a time
when the calmness and comforts of his own dwelling were necessary to his
health. The creditor was obdurate, and would release him upon no
condition but that of receiving a bond from my brother, by which he
engaged to pay the debt at several successive times and in small
portions. All these instalments were discharged with great difficulty
indeed, but with sufficient punctuality, except the last, to which my
brother's earnings were not adequate."

"How much is the debt?"

"Four hundred dollars."

"And is the state of the creditor such as to make the loss of four
hundred dollars of more importance to him than the loss of liberty to
your brother?"

She answered, smiling, "That is a very abstract view of things. On such
a question you and I might, perhaps, easily decide in favour of my
brother; but would there not be some danger of deciding partially? His
conduct is a proof of his decision, and there is no power to change it."

"Will not argument change it? Methinks in so plain a case I should be
able to convince him. You say he is rich and childless. His annual
income is ten times more than this sum. Your brother cannot pay the debt
while in prison; whereas, if at liberty, he might slowly and finally
discharge it. If his humanity would not yield, his avarice might be
brought to acquiesce."

"But there is another passion which you would find it somewhat harder to
subdue, and that is his vengeance. He thinks himself wronged, and
imprisons my brother, not to enforce payment, but to inflict misery. If
you could persuade him that there is no hardship in imprisonment, you
would speedily gain the victory; but that could not be attempted
consistently with truth. In proportion to my brother's suffering is his
gratification."

"You draw an odious and almost incredible portrait."

"And yet such a one would serve for the likeness of almost every second
man we meet."

"And is such your opinion of mankind? Your experience must surely have
been of a rueful tenor to justify such hard thoughts of the rest of your
species."

"By no mea