for that while was that she
showed both of them the door. That was in August; dear me! the same year I came
from college. The scene must have been highly farcical.«
    I thought myself it was a silly business, but I could not forget my father
had a hand in it. »Surely, sir, it had some note of tragedy,« said I.
    »Why, no, sir, not at all,« returned the lawyer. »For tragedy implies some
ponderable matter in dispute, some dignus vindice nodus; and this piece of work
was all about the petulance of a young ass that had been spoiled, and wanted
nothing so much as to be tied up and soundly belted. However, that was not your
father's view; and the end of it was, that from concession to concession on your
father's part, and from one height to another of squalling, sentimental
selfishness upon your uncle's, they came at last to drive a sort of bargain,
from whose ill results you have recently been smarting. The one man took the
lady, the other the estate. Now, Mr. David, they talk a great deal of charity
and generosity; but in this disputable state of life, I often think the happiest
consequences seem to flow when a gentleman consults his lawyer, and takes all
the law allows him. Anyhow, this piece of Quixotry on your father's part, as it
was unjust in itself, has brought forth a monstrous family of injustices. Your
father and mother lived and died poor folk; you were poorly reared; and in the
meanwhile, what a time it has been for the tenants on the estate of Shaws! And I
might add (if it was a matter I cared much about), what a time for Mr.
Ebenezer!«
    »And yet that is certainly the strangest part of all,« said I, »that a man's
nature should thus change.«
    »True,« said Mr. Rankeillor. »And yet I imagine it was natural enough. He
could not think that he had played a handsome part. Those who knew the story
gave him the cold shoulder; those who knew it not, seeing one brother disappear,
and the other succeed in the estate, raised a cry of murder; so that upon all
sides he found himself evited. Money was all he got by his bargain; well, he
came to think the more of money. He was selfish when he was young, he is selfish
now that he is old; and