“He married a coarse, vulgar Kentucky woman, and brought her into the house.  She was insolent and disrespectful toward my mother, and I resented it.  She left the house, and died a few months after.  Since that day, though I was almost a child, my life has been one of constant persecution on the part of my brother and sisters.  I am compelled to endure it, but do so under protest; if not in words, I do in manner, and this I am persuaded you have on more than one occasion observed.  Please do not consider me impertinent, nor let it influence you in your opinion of me, when I tell you my brother has rudely said to me that I was too forward in my intercourse with you.  It is humiliating to say this to you; but I must, for it explains my conduct, which save in this regard has been motiveless.

“A lady born to the inheritance of fortune is very unpleasantly situated, both toward her family and to the world.  These seem solicitous to take greater interest in her pecuniary affairs than in her personal happiness, and are always careful to warn her that her money is more sought than herself—­distracting her mind and feelings, and keeping her constantly miserable.  Since my school-days I have been companionless.  If I have gone into society, I have been under the guard of one or the other of my sisters.  These are cold, austere, and repulsive, and especially toward those who would most likely seek my society, and with whom I would most naturally be pleased.  I must be retired, cold, and never to seem pleased, but always remarkably silent and dignified.  I must be a goddess to be worshipped, and not an equal to be approached and my society courted companionably.  In fine, I was to be miserable, and make all who came to me participate in this misery.  It was more agreeable to remain at home among my flowers and shrubs, my books, and my visits to Uncle Toney.  Do you wonder, sir, that I seem eccentric?  You know how the young love companionship—­how they crave the amusements which lend zest to life.  I enjoy none of this, and I am sometimes, I believe, nearly crazy.  I fear you think me so, now.  I want to love my brother, but he will not permit me to do so.  I fear he has a nature so unlovable that such a feeling toward him animates no heart.  My sisters and a drunken sot of a brother-in-law pretend to love him—­but they measure their affection by the hope of gain.  They reside in Louisiana, and I am glad they are not here during your stay—­for you would certainly be insulted, especially if they saw the slightest evidence of esteem for you on brother’s part, or kindness on mine.”

“Oh! sir, how true is the Scripture, ’Out of the fulness of the heart the mouth speaketh.’  Out of my heart’s fulness have I spoken, and, I fear you will think, out of my heart’s folly, too; and in my heart’s sincerity I tell you I do not know why I have done so to you—­for I have never said anything of these things to any one but cousin Ann, before.  Perhaps it is because I know you are going away and you will not come to rebuke me with your presence any more; for indeed, sir, I do not know how I could meet you and not blush at the memory of this evening’s walk.”