His praise of her was not
all mere affectation of sentiment. He had spoken truly when he said
to Scawthorne that, but for Clem, he would ask nothing better than
to settle down with this gentle girl for his companion. Selfishness,
for the most part, but implying appreciation of her qualities. She
did not love him, but he was sincere enough with himself to admit
that this was perfectly natural. Had circumstances permitted, he
would have tried hard to win some affection from her. Poor little
girl! How would it affect her when she heard what he was going to
say? He felt angry with Kirkwood; yes, truly indignant--men are
capable of greater inconsistencies than this. She would not have
cared much about the money had Kirkwood married her; of that he felt
sure. She had lost her lover; now he was going to deprive her of her
inheritance. Cruel! Yes; but he really felt so well-disposed to her,
so determined to make her a comfortable provision for the future;
and had the money been hers, impossible to have regarded her thus.
Joseph was thankful to the chance which, in making him wealthy, had
also enabled him to nourish such virtuous feeling.
How should he begin? He had a bright idea, an idea worthy of him.
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