“Receive it, then, as your right, proud girl! Education and expectation have given you a right to this Take it.” “Indeed, believe me, I cannot, madam; though from my soul I thank you,” said Miss Seabright, with emotion. Mrs. Garnet looked discouraged for an instant, and then, as her glance fell upon the bright and joyous form of Elsie, as she stood looking out from the front window upon the spring scene, her eyes lighted up, and she called to her: “Elsie, my love, come here. You have a gift of persuasion that I, with all my good-will, never possessed.” Elsie came smiling forward. “Miss Seabright, this is my daughter, Mrs. Hardcastle.” (Ah, Heaven! if they knew they were sisters!) As Miss Seabright bowed Mrs. Hardcastle threw her arm around her neck, and kissed her heartily, exclaiming simply: “Oh, I wished to meet you so much! I shall be so glad to know you well!” “I called you here, my love, to aid me in persuading Miss Seabright to suffer me to do her justice. You know——” “Yes, I know!” said Elsie, interposing her cheerful voice. “I know all about it. See here, Miss Seabright! I never was crowned with magnanimity, sublimity, enthusiasm, or the rest of the Godlike virtues and frenzies! But I am gifted with some sound, good sense, which is ever at the service of my friends, and I offer you a sample of it now. Magnanimity is Godlike, until it is distorted into fanaticism, when it is fool-like! It was magnanimous in you to give up the whole of this estate. It would be fanatical to refuse to take the tenth of it when it is offered to you.” The aptness of this argument seemed to strike Miss Seabright, for, smiling, she replied: “I refer you to Dr. Hutton. I underwent such a course of lessons from him upon the love of lucre, as opposed to the love of justice, that I shall not forget it soon. Ha! I am not sure that, should I go to the altar with a deed of any portion of this estate in my pocket, he would not think I had backslidden in principles, and reject me even there!” Here Miss Joe, who, unperceived, had entered the room and came up to them, interposed her voice, saying: “I wish he wouldn’t—I just do! I shouldn’t like to see Hugh make such a fool of himself as that!” Then, patting Miss Seabright affectionately upon the shoulder, she whispered, in a knowing, confidential tone: “You take it yourself, honey. Who has got a better right to some o’ General Garnet’s property than you? Sure, you’re his own flesh and blood! and the image of him, too! You’re his own flesh and blood, honey. I know all about it. It’s all in the little yellow hair trunk among the letters. You take it, honey. You’re his own flesh and blood!” “Oh! Miss Joe, your rash words have destroyed—have blasted her!” exclaimed Alice, in a voice of agony, as the old lady, having fired this magazine, hurried out of the room quite heedless, because quite unsuspicious of the impending ruin.