ritated with constant gout; he only becomes more
despotic and more unyielding. Had Araminta attempted to soften his
indignation, it would have been equally fruitless; but the compliance
with the request of her cousin of continually railing against her, had
the effect intended. The vituperation of Araminta left him nothing to
say; there was no opposition to direct his anathemas against; there was
no coaxing or wheedling on the part of the offenders for him to repulse;
and when Araminta pressed the old gentleman to vow that Melissa should
never enter the doors again, he accused her of being influenced by
interested motives, threw a basin at her head, and wrote an epistle
requesting Melissa to come and take his blessing. Araminta refused to
attend her uncle after this insult, and the old gentleman became still
more anxious for the return of his daughter, as he was now left entirely
to the caprice of his servants. Araminta gave Melissa an account of
what had passed, and entreated her to come at once. She did so, and a
general reconciliation took place. Mr Mathews, finding his new
son-in-law very indifferent to pecuniary matters, insisted upon making
over to his wife an estate in Herefordshire, which, with Melissa's own
fortune, rendered them in most affluent circumstances. Spikeman
requested Joey to write to him now and then, and that, if he required
assistance, he would apply for it; but still advised him to follow up
the profession of travelling tinker as being the most independent.

Our hero had hardly time to digest the contents of Spikeman's letter
when he received a large packet from Mary, accounting for her not having
replied to him before, in consequence of her absence from the Hall. She
had, three weeks before, received a letter written for Mrs Chopper,
acquainting her that Mrs Chopper was so very ill that it was not
thought possible that she could recover, having an abscess in the liver
which threatened to break internally, and requesting Mary to obtain
leave to come to Gravesend, if she possibly could, as Mrs Chopper
wished to see her before she died. Great as was Mary's repugnance to
revisit Gravesend, she felt that the obligations she was under to Mrs
Chopper were too great for her to hesitate; and showing the letter to
Mrs Austin, and stating at the same time that she considered Mrs
Chopper as more than a mother to her, she obtained the leave which she
requested, and set off for Gravesend.

It was wi