“Hum! as a beggar. But the poor fellow never offended me. Confound it, he never offended me, nor any one else as far as I know. I don't much relish that, Hycy.”
“It cannot be done though in any other way.”
“I say—how do you call that girl?—Jenny, or Peggy, or Molly, or what?”
“I wish to heaven you could be serious, Harry. If not, I shall drop the subject altogether.”
“There now—proceed, O Hyacinthus.”
“How can I proceed, when you won't pay attention to me; or, what is more, to your own interests?”
“Oh! my own interests!—well I am alive to them.”
“Is it a bargain, then?”
“It is a bargain, most ingenuous, most subtle, and most conscientious Hycy! Enable me to enter upon the farm of Ahadarra—to get possession of it—and calculate upon my most—let me see—what's the best word—most strenuous advocacy. That's it: there's my hand upon it. I shall support you, Hycy; but, at the same time, you must not hold me accountable for my sister's conduct. Beyond fair and reasonable persuasion, she must be left perfectly free and uncontrolled in whatever decision she may come to.”
“There's my hand, then, Harry; I can ask no more.”