Would life last till his mother came?
His brothers had striven from the first to awaken thoughts of higher
things, and turn remorse into repentance; but every attempt resulted
in strange, sad wanderings about Esau, the birthright, and the
blessing. Indeed, these might not have been entirely wanderings,
for once he said, 'It is better this way, Bill. You don't know what
you wish in trying to bring me round. Don't be hard on me. She
drove me to it. It is all right now. The Jews will be
disappointed.'
For even at the crisis in London, he had concealed that he had
raised money on post obits, so that, had he outlived my father,
Chantry House would have been lost. Lady Peacock's fortune had been
undermined when she married him; extravagance and gambling had made
short work of the rest.
Why should I speak of such things here, except to mourn over our
much-loved brother, with all his fine qualities and powers wasted
and overthrown? He clung to Clarence's affection, and submitted to
prayers and psalms, but without response. He showed tender
recollection of us all, but scarcely durst think of his father, and
hardly appeared to wish to see his mother. Clarence's object soon
came to be to obtain forgiveness for the wife, since bitterness
against her seemed the great obstacle to seeking pardon, peace, or
hope; but each attempt only produced such bitterness against her,
and such regrets and mourning for Ellen, as fearfully shook the
failing frame, while he moaned forth complaints of the blandishments
and raillery with which his temptress had beguiled him.
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