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an old baronial habitation； but still it is a building always known to every
one by the name of a Castle。 In it； I preserve the particulars of my
history； they run thus：
It was when I first took John Spatter （who had been my clerk） into
partnership； and when I was still a young man of not more than five… and…
twenty； residing in the house of my uncle Chill； from whom I had
considerable expectations； that I ventured to propose to Christiana。 I had
loved Christiana a long time。 She was very beautiful； and very winning
in all respects。 I rather mistrusted her widowed mother； who I feared was
of a plotting and mercenary turn of mind； but； I thought as well of her as I
could； for Christiana's sake。 I never had loved any one but Christiana；
and she had been all the world； and O far more than all the world； to me；
from our childhood！
Christiana accepted me with her mother's consent； and I was rendered
very happy indeed。 My life at my uncle Chill's was of a spare dull kind；
and my garret chamber was as dull； and bare； and cold； as an upper prison
room in some stern northern fortress。 But； having Christiana's love； I
wanted nothing upon earth。 I would not have changed my lot with any
human being。
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Avarice was； unhappily； my uncle Chill's master…vice。 Though he
was rich； he pinched； and scraped； and clutched； and lived miserably。 As
Christiana had no fortune； I was for some time a little fearful of confessing
our engagement to him； but； at length I wrote him a letter； saying how it
all truly was。 I put it into his hand one night； on going to bed。
As I came down…stairs next morning； shivering in the cold December
air； colder in my uncle's unwarmed house than in the street； where the
winter sun did sometimes shine； and which was at all events enlivened by
cheerful faces and voices passing along； I carried a heavy heart towards
the long； low breakfast…room in which my uncle sat。 It was a large room
with a small fire； and there was a great bay window in it which the rain
had marked in the night as if with the tears of houseless people。 It stared
upon a raw yard； with a cracked stone pavement； and some rusted iron
railings half uprooted； whence an ugly out…building that had once been a
dissecting…room （in the time of the great surgeon who had mortgaged the
house to my uncle）； stared at it。
We rose so early always； that at that time of the year we breakfasted by
candle…light。 When I went into the room； my uncle was so contracted by
the cold； and so huddled together in his chair behind the one dim candle；
that I did not see him until I was close to the table。
As I held out my hand to him； he caught up his stick （being infirm； he
always walked about the house with a stick）； and made a blow at me； and
said； 〃You fool！〃
〃Uncle；〃 I returned； 〃I didn't expect you to be so angry as this。〃 Nor
had I expected it； though he was a hard and angry old man。
〃You didn't expect！〃 said he； 〃when did you ever expect？ When did
you ever calculate； or look forward； you contemptible dog？〃
〃These are hard words； uncle！〃
〃Hard words？ Feathers； to pelt such an idiot as you with；〃 said he。
〃Here！ Betsy Snap！ Look at him！〃
Betsy Snap was a withered； hard…favoured； yellow old womanour
only domesticalways employed； at this time of the morning； in rubbing
my uncle's legs。 As my uncle adjured her to look at me； he put his lean
grip on the crown of her head； she kneeling beside him； and turned her
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face towards me。 An involuntary thought connecting them both with the
Dissecting Room； as it must often have been in the surgeon's time； passed
across my mind in the midst of my anxiety。
〃Look at the snivelling milksop！〃 said my uncle。 〃Look at the baby！
This is the gentleman who； people say； is nobody's enemy but his own。
This is the gentleman who can't say no。 This is the gentleman who was
making such large profits in his business that he must needs take a partner；
t'other day。 This is the gentleman who is going to marry a wife without a
penny； and who falls into the hands of Jezabels who are speculating on my
death！〃
I knew； now； how great my uncle's rage was； for nothing short of his
being almost beside himself would have induced him to utter that
concluding word； which he held in such repugnance that it was never
spoken or hinted at before him on any account。
〃On my death；〃 he repeated； as if he were defying me by defying his
own abhorrence of the word。 〃On my deathdeathDeath！ But I'll
spoil the speculation。 Eat your last under this roof； you feeble wretch；
and may it choke you！〃
You may suppose that I had not much appetite for the breakfast to
which I was bidden in these terms； but； I took my accustomed seat。 I saw
that I was repudiated henceforth by my uncle； still I could bear that very
well； possessing Christiana's heart。
He emptied his basin of bread and milk as usual； only that he took it
on his knees with his chair turned away from the table where I sat。 When
he had done； he carefully snuffed out the candle； and the cold； slate…
coloured； miserable day looked in upon us。
〃Now； Mr。 Michael；〃 said he； 〃before we part； I should like to have a
word with these ladies in your presence。〃
〃As you will； sir；〃 I returned； 〃but you deceive yourself； and wrong us；
cruelly； if you suppose that there is any feeling at stake in this contract but
pure； disinterested； faithful love。〃
To this； he only replied； 〃You lie！〃 and not one other word。
We went； through half…thawed snow and half…frozen rain； to the house
where Christiana and her mother lived。 My uncle knew them very well。
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They were sitting at their breakfast； and were surprised to see us at that
hour。
〃Your servant； ma'am；〃 said my uncle to the mother。 〃You divine the
purpose of my visit； I dare say； ma'am。 I understand there is a world of