She told me with
many tears that she had ceased to love me, and asked to be
released for the fulfillment of her vow. I knew then she would one
day be just what she is, and did not think it my duty to insist.
But I did not forsake her, though my affection for her then was
more like a brother's than a lover's. In his will, which was duly
made and witnessed, Mr. Bernard appointed me the guardian of his
child, empowering me to do for her as if she were my sister, and
bidding me when the calamity should overtake her, care for her to
the last.
"'They don't usually survive ling,' he wrote, and he made me his
next heir after Nina's death. It was a great charge for one just
twenty-two, a young, helpless girly and an immense fortune to look
after; but Griswold, my tied friend, came to my aid, and pointed
out means by which a large portion of the Bernard estate could be
turned into money, and thus save me much trouble. I followed his
advice, and then old homestead is all the landed property there is
for me to attend to now, and as this is under the supervision of a
competent overseer, it give me no uneasiness.
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