He wrote to his brother in the most
forbearing terms. The answer received was as offensive as words could
make it. Michael had inherited his father's temper, unredeemed by his
father's better qualities: his second letter reiterated the charges
contained in the first, and declared that he would only accept the
offered division as an act of atonement and restitution on Andrew's
part. I next wrote to the mother to use her influence. She was herself
aggrieved at being left with nothing more than a life interest in
her husband's property; she sided resolutely with Michael; and she
stigmatized Andrew's proposal as an attempt to bribe her eldest son into
withdrawing a charge against his brother which that brother knew to
be true. After this last repulse, nothing more could be done. Michael
withdrew to the Continent; and his mother followed him there. She
lived long enough, and saved money enough out of her income, to add
considerably, at her death, to her elder son's five thousand pounds.
He had previously still further improved his pecuniary position by
an advantageous marriage; and he is now passing the close of his days
either in France or Switzerland--a widower, with one son.
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