“I am sorry, sir, very sorry, that you should be displeased with me; but I am affianced to this lady, and no worldly consideration will induce me not to fulfil an engagement upon which, indeed, my future happiness depends. I have no claim upon you, sir; on the contrary, I have incurred a large debt of gratitude, from your kind protection. Any thing else you would require of me—”
“Humph! that’s always the case; any thing else except what is requested. Brother Nicholas, do me the favour to go up stairs; I wish to speak with my nephew alone.”
“Well, brother John, certainly, if you wish it—if you and Newton have secrets;” and Nicholas rose from his chair.
“Surely, sir,” observed Newton, not pleased at the abrupt dismissal of his father, “we can have no secrets to which my father may not be a party.”
“Yes, but I have, nephew. Your father is my brother, and I take the liberty with my brother, if you like that better—not with your father.”
In the mean time Nicholas had stalked out of the room.
“Nephew,” continued Mr John Forster, as the door closed, “I have stated to you my wish that you should not marry this young woman; and I will now explain my reasons. The girl left in my charge by my brother Edward has become the same to me as a daughter. I intend that you shall make three or four voyages as captain of an India-man; then you shall marry her, and become the heir to my whole fortune. Now you understand me. May I ask, what are your objections?”
“None, sir, but what I have already stated—my attachment and engagement to another person.”
“Is that all?”
“Is it not enough?”