Jane Talbot | Page 6

to me: I don't like your
interference."
This rebuke astonished me. I had sufficient discernment to suspect
something extraordinary, but was for a few minutes quite puzzled and
confounded. He had generally treated me with tenderness and even
deference, and I saw nothing peculiarly petulant or improper in what I
had said.
"Dear sir, forgive me: you know I write to my cousin, and, as he stated
his complaints to me it will be natural to allude to them in my answer
to his letter; but I will only tell him that all difficulties are removed,
and refer him to your letter for further satisfaction; for you will no
doubt write to him."
"I wish you would drop the subject. If you write, you may tell him--but
tell him what you please, or rather it would be best to say nothing on
the subject; but drop the subject, I beseech you."
"Certainly, if the subject displeases you, I will drop it." Here a pause of
mutual embarrassment succeeded, which was, at length, broken by my
father:--
"I will speak to you to-morrow, Jane, on this subject. I grant your
curiosity is natural, and will then gratify it. To-morrow, I may possibly
explain why Risberg has not received what, I must own, he had a right
to expect. We'll think no more of it at present, but play a game at
draughts."
I was impatient, you may be sure, to have a second meeting. Next day
my father's embarrassment and perplexity was very evident. It was
plain that he had not forgotten the promised explanation, but that
something made it a very irksome task. I did not suffer matters to
remain long in suspense, but asked him, in direct terms, what had

caused the failure of which my cousin complained, and whether he was
hereafter to receive the stipulated allowance?
He answered, hesitatingly, and with downcast eyes,--why--he did not
know. He was sorry. It had not been his fault. To say truth, Francis had
received the usual sums to purchase the bills. Till yesterday, he
imagined they had actually been purchased and sent. He always
understood them to have been so from Francis. He had mentioned, after
seeing Risberg's complaining letter, he had mentioned the affair to
Francis. Francis had confessed that he had never sent the bills. His own
necessities compelled him to apply the money given him for this
purpose to his own use. To-be- sure, Risberg was his nephew,--had
always depended on him for his maintenance; but somehow or another
the wants of Francis had increased very much of late years, and
swallowed up all that he could rap and rend without encroaching on his
principal. Risberg was but his nephew; Frank was his own and only son.
To-be-sure, he once thought that he had enough for his three children;
but times, it seems, were altered. He did not spend on his own wants
more than he used to do; but Frank's expenses were very great, and
swallowed up every thing. To-be- sure, he pitied the young man, but he
was enterprising and industrious, and could, no doubt, shift for himself;
yet he would be quite willing to assist him, were it in his power; but
really it was no longer in his power.
I was, for a time, at a loss for words to express my surprise and
indignation at my brother's unfeeling selfishness. I could no longer
maintain my usual silence on his conduct, but inveighed against it, as
soon as I could find breath, with the utmost acrimony.
My father was embarrassed, confounded, grieved. He sighed, and even
wept.--"Francis," said he, at last, "to-be-sure, has not acted quite right.
Bat what can be done? Is he not my child? and, if he has faults, is he
altogether without virtue? No; if he did not find a lenient and forgiving
judge in me, his father, in whom could he look for one? Besides, the
thing is done, and therefore without remedy. This year's income is
nearly exhausted, and I really fear, before another quarter comes round,
I shall want myself."

I again described, in as strong and affecting terms as I could, Risberg's
expectations and disappointment, and insinuated to him, that, in a case
like this, there could be no impropriety in selling a few shares of his
bank-stock.
This hint was extremely displeasing, but I urged him so vehemently
that he said, "Francis will perhaps consent to it; I will try him this
evening."
"Alas!" said I, "my brother will never consent to such a measure. If he
has found occasion for the money you had designed for my poor cousin,
and of all your current income, his necessities will not fail to lay hold
of this."
"Very true;" (glad, it seemed, of an excuse for not