He was followed by Dr.
Etherington, who accompanied him to the private apartment where they had first met that night, neither uttering a syllable until both were seated.
"She was a good woman, Dr.Etherington!" said the widowed man, shaking his foot with agitation.
"She was a good woman, Mr.Goldencalf." "And a good wife, Dr.Etherington." "I have always believed her to be a good wife, sir." "Faithful, obedient, and frugal." "Three qualities that are of much practical use in the affairs of this world." "I shall never marry again, sir." The divine bowed.
"Nay, I never could find such another match!" Again the divine inclined his head, though the assent was accompanied by slight smile.
"Well, she has left me an heir." "And brought something that he might inherit," observed the Doctor, dryly.
My ancestor looked up inquiringly at his companion, but apparently most of the sarcasm was thrown away, "I resign the child to your care, Dr.Etherington, conformably to the dying request of my beloved Betsey." "I accept the charge, Mr.Goldencalf, comformably to my promise to the deceased; but you will remember that there was a condition coupled with that promise which must be faithfully and promptly fulfilled." My ancestor was too much accustomed to respect the punctilios of trade, whose code admits of frauds only in certain categories, which are sufficiently explained in its conventional rules of honor; a sort of specified morality, that is bottomed more on the convenience of its votaries than on the general law of right.

He respected the letter of his promise while his soul yearned to avoid its spirit; and his wits were already actively seeking the means of doing that which he so much desired.
"I did make a promise to poor Betsey, certainly," he answered, in the way of one who pondered, "and it was a promise, too, made under very solemn circumstances." "The promises made to the dead are doubly binding; since, by their departure to the world of spirits, it may be said they leave the performance to the exclusive superintendence of the Being who cannot lie." My ancestor quailed; his whole frame shuddered, and his purpose was shaken.
"Poor Betsey left you as her representative in this case, however, Doctor," he observed, after the delay of more than a minute, casting his eyes wistfully towards the divine.
"In one sense, she certainly did, sir." "And a representative with full powers is legally a principal under a different name.

I think this matter might be arranged to our mutual satisfaction, Dr.Etherington, and the intention of poor Betsey most completely executed; she, poor woman, knew little of business, as was best for her sex; and when women undertake affairs of magnitude, they are very apt to make awkward work of it." "So that the intention of the deceased be completely fulfilled, you will not find me exacting, Mr.Goldencalf." "I thought as much--I knew there could be no difficulty between two men of sense, who were met with honest views to settle a matter of this nature.

The intention of poor Betsey, Doctor, was to place her child under your care, with the expectation--and I do not deny its justice--that the boy would receive more benefit from your knowledge than he possibly could from mine." Dr.Etherington was too honest to deny these premises, and too polite to admit them without an inclination of acknowledgment.
"As we are quite of the same mind, good sir, concerning the preliminaries," continued my ancestor, "we will enter a little nearer into the details.

It appears to me to be no more than strict justice, that he who does the work should receive the reward.