“I brought it,” replied Amos, “for my sister’s own private use and benefit, and cannot therefore give it to you.”
“Ah, indeed!” said the other sarcastically; “but you know, sir, that a wife’s goods belong to her husband, who, as I think the Bible has it, is the head of the wife, so that what is hers is his, and indeed his more than hers.”
“Perhaps so, under ordinary circumstances,” replied Amos; “but this is a free gift from a father to a daughter, and I am sure no kind or reasonable husband would wish to deprive her of it.”
“Deprive, sir? No,—deprive is not the word. Husband and wife are one, you know: the wife is the weaker vessel, and the husband the stronger; and it is only right and natural that the stronger should have the money, that he may use it for the benefit of the weaker.”
“Mr Vivian,” said Amos firmly, “all this, and you must know it, is mere idle talk. I cannot give you the money.”
“And I on my part say, sir,” replied the other, “that I must have it. I want it. I cannot do without it.”
“I have told you my decision,” said Amos.
“Indeed,” said the other. “Then I am driven to an unpleasant line of persuasion, though very reluctantly.”
He rose, and Amos did the same.
“Do you see this?” he said, taking from his pocket a revolver.