"Then," said Oliver, "this is of no use; and the sooner there is an end of it the better;"--and he threw it into the fire, where it was instantly consumed. The Lambleys were so frightened at this outrageous act (for so it appeared to them), that they all tried to get out of the room. Mrs. Brigham spread her hands with a sort of scream; her husband could not help laughing; Fanny again dropped her work, and nobody picked it up. Mr. Culpepper frowned awfully; but he was the first to speak, and said, "Young man, how have you dared to do this?" "I can dare twice as much," replied Oliver;--"I have shot a bear face to face. One hard winter there were several found in the woods not ten miles off. Suppose, Mr. Culpepper, you were to die suddenly (as you possibly may in a fit or something), before you get your new will made! This would then be considered the right one, and your money after all would go to that idiot hospital." "You are the most original youth I have ever met with," said Culpepper; "I know not how it is; but the more you oppose me, the better I like you." The nephews looked astonished. "Still," observed Oliver, "it would never do for us to live together. For myself, I neither like opposing nor submitting; never having been used to either." "It is not possible," said Culpepper, "that you mean seriously to refuse my offer of protection and fortune?" "As to protection," replied Oliver; "I can protect myself. And as to fortune, I dare say I can make one for myself. And as to that other thing, the wife, I shall try to get one of my own sort--Fanny, or somebody else. And as to the name of Culpepper, I'll never take it." "And will you really not go with me to Canada?" "No! positively I will not. I believe, though, I ought to thank you for your offers, which I now do. No doubt they were well meant. But here I intend to stay, with the excellent people that took me when nobody else would, and that have brought me up as their own child. I know how sorry they would be were I to leave them, and yet they have had the forbearance not to say one word to persuade me to stay. So it is my firm determination to live and die with them." He then shook hands with each of the old Brighams, who were deeply affected, and threw their arms round him. Fanny, completely overcome, entirely off her guard, flew to Oliver, hid her face on his shoulder, and burst into tears. He kissed her cheek, saying, "Now, Fanny, I hope we understand each other;"--and Colonel Brigham put his daughter's hand into Oliver's. "So then," said Mr. Culpepper, "I have found a grandson but to lose him. Well, I deserve it." The nephews looked as if they thought so too. "What shall I do now?" continued the old man dolorously. "Take your nephews into favour again," said Oliver. "They never were in favour," replied the uncle. "At all events treat them like men." "It is their own fault. Why do they not behave as such?"