 people marry to better their
worldly condition and improve appearances; it is an affair of house and
furniture, of liveries, servants, equipage, and so forth. The lady being poor
and you poor also, there is an end of the matter. You cannot enter upon these
considerations, and have no manner of business with the ceremony. I drink her
health in this glass, and respect and honour her for her extreme good sense. It
is a lesson to you. Fill yours, Ned.«
    »It is a lesson,« returned his son, »by which I hope I may never profit, and
if years and experience impress it on -«
    »Don't say on the heart,« interposed his father.
    »On men whom the world and its hypocrisy have spoiled,« said Edward warmly;
»Heaven keep me from its knowledge.«
    »Come, sir,« returned his father, raising himself a little on the sofa, and
looking straight towards him; »we have had enough of this. Remember, if you
please, your interest, your duty, your moral obligations, your filial
affections, and all that sort of thing which it is so very delightful and
charming to reflect upon; or you will repent it.«
    »I shall never repent the preservation of my self-respect, sir,« said
Edward. »Forgive me if I say that I will not sacrifice it at your bidding, and
that I will not pursue the track which you would have me take, and to which the
secret share you have had in this late separation tends.«
    His father rose a little higher still, and looking at him as though curious
to know if he were quite resolved and earnest, dropped gently down again, and
said in the calmest voice - eating his nuts meanwhile,
    »Edward, my father had a son, who being a fool like you, and, like you,
entertaining low and disobedient sentiments, he disinherited and cursed one
morning after breakfast. The circumstance occurs to me with a singular clearness
of recollection this evening. I remember eating muffins at the time, with
marmalade. He led a miserable life (the son, I mean) and died early; it was a
happy release on all accounts; he degraded the family very much. It is a sad
circumstance, Edward, when a father finds it necessary to resort to such strong
measures.«
    »It is,« replied Edward, »and it is sad when a son, proffering him his love
and duty in their best and truest sense, finds himself
