But, Clara, I had something more material to say to you--something indeed of the last importance." "What is it ?" said Clara, in a tone of voice approaching to a scream--"in the name of God, what is it?
You know not how you terrify me!" "Nay, you start at a shadow, Clara," answered her brother.

"It is no such uncommon matter neither--good faith, it is the most common distress in the world, so far as I know the world--I am sorely pinched for money." "Is that all ?" replied Clara, in a tone which seemed to her brother as much to underrate the difficulty, when it was explained, as her fears had exaggerated it before she heard its nature.
"Is that all?
Indeed it is all, and comprehends a great deal of vexation.

I shall be hard run unless I can get a certain sum of money--and I must e'en ask you if you can help me ?" "Help you ?" replied Clara; "Yes, with all my heart--but you know my purse is a light one--more than half of my last dividend is in it, however, and I am sure, John, I shall be happy if it can serve you--especially as that will at least show that your wants are but small ones." "Alas, Clara, if you would help me," said her brother, half repentant of his purpose, "you must draw the neck of the goose which lays the golden eggs--you must lend me the whole stock." "And why not, John," said the simple-hearted girl, "if it will do you a kindness?
Are you not my natural guardian?
Are you not a kind one?
And is not my little fortune entirely at your disposal?
You will, I am sure, do all for the best." "I fear I may not," said Mowbray, starting from her, and more distressed by her sudden and unsuspicious compliance, than he would have been by difficulties, or remonstrance.

In the latter case, he would have stifled the pangs of conscience amid the manoeuvres which he must have resorted to for obtaining her acquiescence; as matters stood, there was all the difference that there is between slaughtering a tame and unresisting animal, and pursuing wild game, until the animation of the sportsman's exertions overcomes the internal sense of his own cruelty.[I-E] The same idea occurred to Mowbray himself.
"By G--," he said, "this is like shooting the bird sitting .-- Clara," he added, "I fear this money will scarce be employed as you would wish." "Employ it as you yourself please, my dearest brother," she replied, "and I will believe it is all for the best." "Nay, I am doing for the best," he replied; "at least, I am doing what must be done, for I see no other way through it--so all you have to do is to copy this paper, and bid adieu to bank dividends--for a little while at least.

I trust soon to double this little matter for you, if Fortune will but stand my friend." "Do not trust to Fortune, John," said Clara, smiling, though with an expression of deep melancholy.