“Well, sir, when I first fell in love she had not a six-pence.”
“Humph!—well, nephew, that may be very true; but, as I said before, follow your profession.”
“Marriage will not prevent my so doing, uncle. Most captains of Indiamen are married, men.”
“More fools they! leaving their wives at home, to be flattered and fooled by the Lord knows who. A wife, nephew—is a woman.”
“I hope that mine will be one, sir,” replied Newton,—laughing.
“Nephew, once for all, I don’t approve of your marrying now—that’s understood. It’s my wish that you follow your profession. I’ll be candid with you; I have left you the heir to most of my fortune; but—I can alter my will. If you marry this girl I shall do so.”
“Alter your will, brother?” said Nicholas, who had been attentive to the conversation.—“Why, who have you to leave your money to, except to Newton?”
“To hospitals—to pay off the national debt—to any thing. Perhaps I may leave it all to that little girl, who already has come in for a slice.”
“But, brother,” replied Nicholas, “will that be just, to leave all your money away from the family?”
“Just, yes, brother Nicholas, quite just. A man’s will is his will. If he makes it so as to satisfy the wishes or expectations of others, it is no longer his will, but theirs. Nephew, as I said before, if you marry against my consent, I shall alter my will.”