"And why not? All agree that it will be best for you to remain here. The difficulty in the way is the slowness with which a practice is acquired in a large city like this, and the inability of a young physician to support himself for a year or two. Ella and I, in love and duty, agree to do a certain thing, right in itself—as right as to practise medicine—in order to sustain our brother, a young physician, until he can sustain himself. Can he, upon any just plea, refuse to let us be coworkers, in affection, with him in his honorable elevation. Will he do violence to our love and sisterly pride? Will he abandon his home, with all its dear associations, and go off among strangers, because the voice of false pride is louder than the voice of reason and love? No! Our brother will not so lightly esteem our offering. He will not trample it under his feet!"
"Martha! Martha!" exclaimed the young man, "you must not urge me thus. You paralyse, instead of giving strength to my judgment. My sisters teach music to support me! Away with the thought!"
"False pride, false independence, Lloyd. It is nothing else. We have the time and the ability; and whether you accept what we propose or not, whether you go or stay, we shall do as we said. Our father demands our consideration, and he shall have it. Long enough has he been burdened for our support. But, oh! how much sweeter would be our tasks, how much lighter our duties, if you would still consent to make home glad with your presence."
Martha spoke with great tenderness; and she saw that her words made an impression.
"Say that you will remain with us, brother," she continued. "Home will not seem like home to any of us when you are gone. Do not be the first to break the circle, when no real necessity for doing so exists."
The young man was silent, yet much disturbed.
"I will think about it a little longer," he said, in an agitated voice. "At present I will only say, that this unexpected manifestation of affection by you and Ella has touched me deeply. May it meet its just reward."
"The reward is in your hands, brother. Do not withhold it," returned Martha.
"Be silent, sister. You throw my thoughts all into confusion," said Lloyd Hudson, in a tender yet rebuking-voice. "How am I to decide as to the right course for me to take, when you bear down my feelings at this rate? I must think more about it. I think alone. What I conscientiously believe to be right, that I will do, and do it though all the world oppose."
"In determining what is right for you to do, I will merely say," remarked the sister, "that if you admit into your counsels any suggestions from false pride, your conclusions will be in great danger of having in them a tincture of error. If there is any bias of feeling, let it be given by love and not pride."