CHAPTER XIX. THE LETTER

glectinghisadvice,andthatIhavejustlysufferedforit,hewillmakealadyofmeonceagain—ifthatbepossibleaftermylongdegradation—andremembermygirlsinhiswill.Getmydesk,Agnes,andsendthesethingsaway:Iwillanswertheletterdirectly.Butfirst,asImaybedeprivingyoubothofalegacy,itisjustthatIshouldtellyouwhatImeantosay.IshallsaythatheismistakeninsupposingthatIcanregretthebirthofmydaughters(whohavebeentheprideofmylife,andarelikelytobethecomfortofmyoldage),orthethirtyyearsIhavepassedinthecompanyofmybestanddearestfriend—that,hadourmisfortunesbeenthreetimesasgreatastheywere(unlesstheyhadbeenofmybringingon),Ishouldstillthemorerejoicetohavesharedthemwithyourfather,andadministeredwhatconsolationIwasableand,hadhissufferingsinillnessbeententimeswhattheywere,Icouldnotregrethavingwatchedoverandlabouredtorelievethem—that,ifhehadmarriedaricherwife,misfortunesandtrialswouldnodoubthavecomeuponhimstillwhileIamegotistenoughtoimaginethatnootherwomancouldhavecheeredhimthroughthemsowell:notthatIamsuperiortotherest,butIwasmadeforhim,andheformeandIcannomorerepentthehours,days,yearsofhappinesswehavespenttogether,andwhichneithercouldhavehadwithouttheother,thanIcantheprivilegeofhavingbeenhisnurseinsickness,andhiscomfortinaffliction. “Willthisdo,children?—orshallIsayweareallverysorryforwhathashappenedduringthelastthirtyyears,andmydaughterswishtheyhadneverbeenbornbutsincetheyhavehadthatmisfortune,theywillbethankfulforanytrifletheirgrandpapawillbekindenoughtobestow?” Ofcourse,webothapplaudedourmother’sresolutionMaryclearedawaythebreakfastthingsIbroughtthedesktheletterwasquicklywrittenanddespatchedand,fromthatday,weheardnomoreofourgrandfather,tillwesawhisdeathannouncedinthenewspaperaconsiderabletimeafter—allhisworldlypossessions,ofcourse,beinglefttoourwealthyunknowncousins.