The Freemason's Daughter: A Novel — page 151: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

143 THE FREEMASONS DAUGHTER. ** They have decided upon nothing yet—their sorrow is too recent.” “All very well, Henry; but sorrow is a luxury which it requires both time and money to enjoy. I never could afford to give way to it myself.” . ““Amy has some idea of establishing a school, I believe, sir.” ““Very good, very proper,” exclaimed Grindem, with an air of satisfaction. ‘She is rather young, but that is a fault which lessens daily. Let me know when she has decided. In my opinion, the sooner she begins the better. I will do something to assist her.” ‘Thank you, sir,” replied Henry Beacham, without laying much stress upon the promise; for he had lived too long with his uncle, and began to form too just an estimate of his character, to entertain any very extra- vagant ideas of his benevolence. ‘Pll recommend her,’ added the merchant. His nephew smiled, and thought to himself how little use the recommendation of an old bachelor, who visited no one, and whose moral character was not the very best in the world, would be to an orphan girl struggling in life. Had Amy been about to enter the commercial world, the case might have been different. « And give her fifty pounds,” continued his uncle. “ Sir!” “ And give her fifty pounds. Why, how the fellow stares! Is there anything remarkable in my .assisting the widow and daughter of an old servant of the firm ?” COniiclooecl SS (SO