"Is not all I have my sons' ?" she cried, "and would I not cut myself into little pieces to serve them?
With the six thousand pounds I would have bought Mr.
Boulter's estate and negroes, which would have given us a good thousand pounds a year, and made a handsome provision for my Harry." Her young friend and neighbour, Mr.Washington of Mount Vernon, could not convince her that the London agent was right, and must not give up his trust except to those for whom he held it.

Madam Esmond gave the London lawyer a piece of her mind, and, I am sorry to say, informed Mr.Draper that he was an insolent pettifogger, and deserved to be punished for doubting the honour of a mother and an Esmond.

It must be owned that the Virginian Princess had a temper of her own.
George Esmond, her firstborn, when this little matter was referred to him, and his mother vehemently insisted that he should declare himself, was of the opinion of Mr.Washington, and Mr.Draper, the London lawyer.
The boy said he could not help himself.

He did not want the money: he would be very glad to think otherwise, and to give the money to his mother, if he had the power.

But Madam Esmond would not hear any of these reasons.