"Ah! I remember your daughters told my sisters that sad story. Can we be of any service to your family? Shall I send Adèle, or----"
"My dear sir! why do you stand here, letting me talk about a hundred things, while your ladies are in suspense about your affair? I deserve----"
"Not so. I have sent to relieve them, and shall now follow. Tell me if I can serve you."
"Yes, if you can make your sisters forgive the part I have acted towards you. For those who have done worse, I will offer no defence."
"None is needed beyond that which is before our eyes in the struggles of an expiring system of monopoly. But a few days ago, I thought I could hardly forgive my opponents; but now I am disposed to wait and see the effects of a natural co-operation of interests. Let your Coopers have hearts open for 'fancies,' and a purse wherewith to indulge them;--let your old friend Short leave an unfinished piece upon his loom when his hour shall come;--let your daughters purchase French or English dresses as they list;--let our neighbours and ourselves be free to sell where we find customers most eager to buy;--let the government trust us to prosper after our own manner,--and there will be no antipathies mixed up with our bargains; no loss of time and temper in suspiciously watching one another's proceedings; no mutual injury in apprehension, any more than in reality."
"Do you really expect to see the day when all will go so smoothly with us?"
"That the day will fully come I believe, because I already see the dawn. But a few hours ago it seemed to me all clouded, and I fretfully declared I would not abide the uncertainty."
"And now? You cannot now think of leaving us,--to our everlasting shame? You will allow us to repair our disgrace?"
“We will repent our mutual offences;--I my precipitancy, and you your misapprehension. Yes; I will stay, and in our brotherhood as individuals discern the future brotherhood of our respective nations.”[nations.”]