all her earthly wrongs and sorrows ended.

“The brothers were waiting in a room down-stairs, impatient to

ride away. I had heard them, alone at the bedside, striking their

boots with their riding-whips, and loitering up and down.

“‘At last she is dead?’ said the elder, when I went in.

“‘She is dead,’ said I.

“‘I congratulate you, my brother,’ were his words as he turned

round.

“He had before offered me money, which I had postponed

taking. He now gave me a rouleau of gold. I took it from his hand,

but laid it on the table. I had considered the question, and had

resolved to accept nothing.

“‘Pray excuse me,’ said I. ‘Under the circumstances, no.’

“They exchanged looks, but bent their heads to me as I bent

mine to them, and we parted without another word on either side.

“I am weary, weary, wearyworn down by misery; I cannot

read what I have written with this gaunt hand.

“Early in the morning, the rouleau of gold was left at my door in

a little box, with my name on the outside. From the first, I had

anxiously considered what I ought to do. I decided, that day, to

Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics

write privately to the Minister, stating the nature of the two cases

to which I had been summoned, and the place to which I had

gone: in effect, stating all the circumstances. I knew what Court

influence was, and what the