Brandon followed her into an apartment which his eye knew at a glance had been subjected to that female superintendence which makes such uses from what men reject as insignificant; and he thanked her with more than his usual amenity, for the grace which had presided over, and the kindness which had dictated her preparations.

As soon as he was left alone, he wheeled his armchair near the clear, bright fire, and resting his face upon his hand, in the attitude of a man who prepares himself as it were for the indulgence of meditation, he muttered,-- "Yes! these women are, first, what Nature makes them, and that is good; next, what use make them, and that is evil! Now, could I persuade myself that we ought to be nice as to the use we put these poor puppets to, I should shrink from enforcing the destiny which I have marked for this girl.

But that is a pitiful consideration, and he is but a silly player who loses his money for the sake of preserving his counters.

So the young lady must go as another score to the fortunes of William Brandon.
After all, who suffers?
Not she.

She will have wealth, rank, honour.
I shall suffer, to yield so pretty and pure a gem to the coronet of--Faugh! How I despise that dog; but how I could hate, crush, mangle him, could I believe that he despised me! Could he do so?
Umph! No, I have resolved myself that is impossible.