He was
too proud to brave the sneers of the world; too prudent to combat with
his father's disappointed hopes and fierce anger. His fortune he knew
would be large--but when is avarice satisfied? and he abandoned the
first generous impulse he had ever felt, with the first sigh he had ever
breathed.
He contented himself with wandering, day after day around the widow's
dwelling, in the hope of catching a passing glance of the object of his
idolatry, without incurring the danger of a personal interview, which
might lead to an indiscreet avowal of the passion which consumed him,
and place him in the power of his fair enslaver. He hovered around her
path, and at church disturbed her devotions by never removing his eyes
from her face; but the tale of his love remained untold, and was
scarcely acknowledged even to himself.
This was the happiest period of Mark Hurdlestone's life. His passion for
Elinor Wildegrave, though selfish and unrefined, was deep and sincere.
He contemplated the beautiful and friendless girl, as in after years he
viewed the gold in his coffers, as a secret treasure hid from the world,
and only known to him.
From this dream he was at length aroused, by the sudden and unexpected
appearance of his brother Algernon at the Hall. With quivering lips he
congratulated him upon his return to his native land; exchanging with
cold and nerveless grasp the warm pressure of his brother's hand, while
he contemplated with envy and alarm the elegant person of the returned
prodigal.
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