My children
have been ruined by it. I may, by the mercy of Providence, be yet set right
in the world, and so soon as that time comes, I will remember, and I
will act; but my children--you will see that wretched girl, my
daughter--education, society, all would come too late--my children have
been ruined by it."
'"I have not done it; but I know what you mean," I said. "You menace
litigation whenever you have the means; but you forget that Austin placed
you under promise, when he gave you the use of this house and place, never
to disturb my title to Elverston. So there is my answer, if you mean that."
'"I mean what I mean," he replied, with his old smile.
'"You mean then," said I, "that for the pleasure of vexing me with
litigation, you are willing to forfeit your tenure of this house and
place."
'"Suppose I _did_ mean precisely that, why should I forfeit anything?
My beloved brother, by his will, has given me a right to the use of
Bartram-Haugh for my life, and attached no absurd condition of the kind you
fancy to his gift."
'Silas was in one of his vicious old moods, and liked to menace me.
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