“Indeed, believe me, I cannot, madam; though from my soul I thank you,” said Miss Seabright, with emotion.
Mrs. Garnet looked discouraged for an instant, and then, as her glance fell upon the bright and joyous form of Elsie, as she stood looking out from the front window upon the spring scene, her eyes lighted up, and she called to her:
“Elsie, my love, come here. You have a gift of persuasion that I, with all my good-will, never possessed.”
Elsie came smiling forward.
“Miss Seabright, this is my daughter, Mrs. Hardcastle.” (Ah, Heaven! if they knew they were sisters!)
As Miss Seabright bowed Mrs. Hardcastle threw her arm around her neck, and kissed her heartily, exclaiming simply:
“Oh, I wished to meet you so much! I shall be so glad to know you well!”
“I called you here, my love, to aid me in persuading Miss Seabright to suffer me to do her justice. You know——”
“Yes, I know!” said Elsie, interposing her cheerful voice. “I know all about it. See here, Miss Seabright! I never was crowned with magnanimity, sublimity, enthusiasm, or the rest of the Godlike virtues and frenzies! But I am gifted with some sound, good sense, which is ever at the service of my friends, and I offer you a sample of it now. Magnanimity is Godlike, until it is distorted into fanaticism, when it is fool-like! It was magnanimous in you to give up the whole of this estate. It would be fanatical to refuse to take the tenth of it when it is offered to you.”
The aptness of this argument seemed to strike Miss Seabright, for, smiling, she replied: