Newton Forster Part 54

"No, my dear father, we boarded one."

"Ah! very true; I recollect--and you killed Surcoeuf."

"No, father, only beat him off."

"So it was; I recollect now.--Brother John, isn't it almost dinner-time?"

"Yes, brother Nicholas, it is; and I'm not sorry for it. Mr William Aveleyn, perhaps you'd like to wash your hands? A lad's paws are never the worse for a little clean water."

William Aveleyn blushed: his dignity was hurt: but he had lately been very intimate at Mr Forster's, and he therefore walked out to comply with the recommendation.

"Well, brother Nicholas, what have you been doing all day?"

"Doing all day, brother? really, I don't exactly know. My dear," said Nicholas, turning to his wife, "what have I been doing all day?"

"To the best of my recollection," replied Mrs Forster, smiling, "you have been asking when dinner would be ready."

"Uncle Nicholas," said Amber, "you promised to buy me a skein of blue silk."

"Did I, my dear? Well, so I did, I declare. I'm very sorry--dear me, I forgot, I did buy it. I pa.s.sed by a shop where the windows were full of it, and it brought it to my mind, and I did buy it. It cost--what was it, it cost?"

"Oh! I know what it cost," replied Amber. "I gave you three-pence to pay for it. Where is it?"

"If I recollect, it cost seven s.h.i.+llings and six-pence," replied Nicholas, pulling out, not a skein of blue silk, but a yard of blue sa.r.s.enet.

"Now, papa, do look here! Uncle Nicholas, I never will give you a commission again. Is it not provoking? I have seven s.h.i.+llings and six-pence to pay for a yard of blue sa.r.s.enet, which I do not want.

Uncle Nicholas, you really are very stupid."

"Well, my dear, I suppose I am. I heard William Aveleyn say the same, when I came into the room this morning, because--let me see--"

"You heard him say nothing, uncle," interrupted Amber, colouring.

"Yes, I recollect now--how stupid I was to come in when I was not wanted!"

"Humph!" said John Forster; and dinner was announced.

Since the recognition of Mrs Forster by her husband, she had presided at her brother-in-law's table. The dinner provided was excellent, and was done ample justice to by all parties, especially Nicholas, whose appet.i.te appeared to increase from idleness. Since Newton had left England he had remained a pensioner upon his brother; and, by dint of constant exertion on the part of Mrs Forster, had been drilled out of his propensity of interfering with either the watch or the spectacles.

This was all that was required by Mr John Forster; and Nicholas walked up and down the house, like a tame cat, minding n.o.body, and n.o.body paying any attention to him.

After dinner the ladies retired, and shortly afterwards William Aveleyn quitted the room.

Newton thought this to be a good opportunity to acquaint his uncle with his attachment to Miss Revel, and the favourable result. Mr John Forster heard him without interruption.

"Very nice girl, I dare say, nephew, but you are too young to marry.

You can't marry and go to sea. Follow your profession, Newton; speculate in opium--I'll find the means."

"I trust, sir, that I never should speculate in marrying; but, had I acted on that plan, this would prove the best speculation of the two.

Miss Revel has a very large fortune."

"So much the worse: a man should never be indebted to his wife for his money--they never forget it. I'd rather you had fallen in love with a girl without a s.h.i.+lling."

"Well, sir, when I first fell in love she had not a six-pence."

"Humph!--well, nephew, that may be very true; but, as I said before, follow your profession."

"Marriage will not prevent my so doing, uncle. Most captains of Indiamen are married, men."

"More fools they! leaving their wives at home, to be flattered and fooled by the Lord knows who. A wife, nephew--is a woman."

"I hope that mine will be one, sir," replied Newton,--laughing.

"Nephew, once for all, I don't approve of your marrying now--that's understood. It's my wish that you follow your profession. I'll be candid with you; I have left you the heir to most of my fortune; but--I can alter my will. If you marry this girl I shall do so."

"Alter your will, brother?" said Nicholas, who had been attentive to the conversation.--"Why, who have you to leave your money to, except to Newton?"

"To hospitals--to pay off the national debt--to any thing. Perhaps I may leave it all to that little girl, who already has come in for a slice."

"But, brother," replied Nicholas, "will that be just, to leave all your money away from the family?"

"Just, yes, brother Nicholas, quite just. A man's will is his _will_.

If he makes it so as to satisfy the wishes or expectations of others, it is no longer _his will_, but theirs. Nephew, as I said before, if you marry against my consent, I shall alter my will."

"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 grat.i.tude, 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?"

"It appears that this young woman has entered into an engagement on board s.h.i.+p, without consulting her friends."

"She has no father, sir. She is of age, and independent."

"You have done the same."