He
saw, as well as we, that the presence and tyranny of that fatal woman
destroyed his father's health and spirits--that the old man knew no peace
or comfort in her neighbourhood, and was actually hastening to his grave
under that dreadful and unremitting persecution. Mrs. Mackenzie made
Clive scarcely less wretched than his father--she governed his household
--took away his weak wife's allegiance and affection from him--and caused
the wretchedness of every single person round about her. They ought to
live apart. If she was too poor to subsist upon her widow's pension,
which, in truth, was but a very small pittance, let Clive give up to her,
say, the half of his wife's income of one hundred pounds a year. His
prospects and present means of earning money were such that he might
afford to do without that portion of his income; at any rate, he and his
father would be cheaply ransomed at that price from their imprisonment to
this intolerable person. "Go, Clive," said his counsellors, "and bring
back your wife and child, and let us all be happy together.
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