"Oh! that is nothing but the hysterics, Mimmy! 'high strikes,' as Jenny calls them! I feel like I should have them myself sometimes! Come! cheer up, Mimmy! Your fever is off and your head is cool! Come, take this consoling cup of tea and bit of toast, and you will feel so much stronger and cheerfuler." "Tea! Oh! everything I eat and drink in this unhappy house is bitter--the bitter cup and bitter bread of dependence!" "Put more sugar into it, then, Mimmy, and sweeten it! Come! Things are not yet desperate! Cheer up!" "What do you mean, my love? Have you consented to be married to Dr. Grimshaw?" "No! St. Mary! Heaven forbid!" exclaimed Jacquelina, shuddering for the first time. "Now, why 'heaven forbid?' Oh! my child, why are you so perverse? Why won't you take him, since your uncle has set his heart upon the match?" "Oh, mother!" "I know you are very young to be married--too young! far too young! Only sixteen, gracious heaven! But then you know we have no alternative but that, or starvation; and it is not as if you were to be married to a youth of your own age--this gentleman is of grave years and character, which makes a great difference." "I should think it did." "What makes you shiver and shake so, my dear? Are you cold or nervous? Poor child, you got no sleep last night. Do you drink that cup of tea, my dear. You need it more than I do." "No, no." "Why, what is the matter with my fairy?" "Oh, mother, mother, don't take sides against me! don't! or you will drive me to my ruin. Who will take a child's part, if her mother don't? I love you best of all the world, mother. Do not takes sides against me! take my part! help me to be true! to be true!" "True to whom, Jacquelina? What are you talking about?" "True to this heart--to this heart, mother! to all that is honest and good in my nature." "I don't understand you at all." "Oh, mother, the thought of marrying anybody is unwelcome to me now; and the idea of being married to Grim is abhorrent; is like that of being sold to a master that I hate, or sent to prison for life; it is full of terror and despair. Oh! oh!--" "Don't talk so wildly, Jacquelina, you make me ill." "Do I, Mimmy? Oh, I didn't mean to worry you. Bear up, Mimmy; do try to bear up; don't fear; suppose he does turn me out. I am but a little girl, and food and clothing are cheap enough in the country, and any of our neighbors will take me in just for the fun I'll make them. La! yes, that they will, just as gladly as they will let in the sunshine." "Oh, child, how little you know of the world. Yes, for a day or two, or a week or two, scarcely longer. And even if you could find a home, who would give shelter to your poor, sick mother for the rest of her life?" "Mother! uncle would never deny you shelter upon my account!" exclaimed Jacquelina, growing very pale. "Indeed he will, my child; he has; he came in here last night and warned me to pack up and leave the house."