Before Craig had cleared the front door she
was respecting him, even as she raged against him. Insolent,
impudent, coarsely insulting--yes, all these. But very much a man,
a masculine force; with weaknesses, it was true, and his full
measure of the low-sprung's obsequious snobbishness; but, for all
that, strong, persistent, concentrated, one who knew the master-
art of making his weaknesses serve as pitfalls into which his
enemies were lured, to fall victim to his strength.
"Yes, he will arrive," reflected Madam Bowker. "Branch will yet
have to serve him. Poor Branch! What a misery for a man to be born
with a master's mind but with the lack of will and courage that
keeps a man a servant. Yes, Craig will arrive! ... What a pity he
has no money."
But, on second thought, that seemed less a disadvantage. If she
should let him marry Margaret they would be dependent upon her;
she could control them--him--through holding the purse strings.
And when that remote time came at which it would please God to
call her from her earthly labors to their eternal reward, she
could transfer the control to Margaret. "Men of his origin are
always weak on the social side," she reflected.
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