Vanslyperken paused before he replied. The old woman had charge of all his money--she was on the verge of the grave--for what could she require his gold?--could she be so foolish?--it was insanity. Vanslyperken was right--it was insanity, for avarice is no better.
"Do you mean, mother," replied Vanslyperken, "that you want gold from me?"
"From whom else?" demanded the old woman sharply.
"Take it, then, mother--take as many pieces as you please."
"I must have all that there is in that chest, Cornelius."
"Yes, all; and what is it, after all? What price is too high for blood which calls for retribution? Besides, Cornelius, it must be all yours again when I die; but I shall not die yet--no, no."
"Well, mother," replied Vanslyperken, "if it must be so, it shall all be yours--not that I can see what difference it makes, whether it is called yours or mine."
"Then why not give it freely? Why do you hesitate to give to your poor old mother what may be again yours before the leaf again falls? Ask yourself why, Cornelius, and then you have my answer. The gold is here in my charge, but it is not _my_ gold--it is yours. You little think how often I've laid in bed and longed that it was all _mine_. Then I would count it--count it again and again--watch over it, not as I do now as a mere deposit in my charge, but as a mother would watch and smile upon her first-born child. There is a talisman in that word _mine_, that not approaching _death_ can wean from _life_. It is our natures, child--say, then, is all that gold _mine_?"
Vanslyperken paused; he also felt the magic of the word; and although it was but a nominal and temporary divestment of the property, even that gave him a severe struggle; but his avarice was overcome by his feelings of revenge, and he answered solemnly, "As I hope for revenge, mother, _all_ that gold is _yours_, provided that you do the deed."
Here the old hag burst into a sort of shrieking laugh. "Send him here, child;" and the almost unearthly cachinnation was continued--"send him here, child--I can't go to seek him--and it is done--only bring him here."
So soon as this compact had been completed, Vanslyperken and his mother had a consultation; and it was agreed, that it would be advisable not to attempt the deed until the day before the cutter sailed, as it would remove all suspicion, and be supposed that the boy had deserted. This arrangement having been made, Vanslyperken made rather a hasty retreat. The fact was, that he was anxious to recover the fragment of Snarleyyow, which his mother had so contemptuously thrown out of the casement.