The Freemason's Daughter: A Novel — page 46: what you’re looking at

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

THE FREEMASONS DAUGHTER. 37 irregular habits, and the means of excess, had for many years been permitted him, in the charitable hope that he would gradually destroy his constitution ; but, unfortunately for his employer’s hopes, it seemed, like his own sordid heart, of iron. ‘** Perhaps,” added the merchant, impatiently, for he was too much excited to conceal the pleasure which the mere anticipation of the clerk’s death gave him; ** but, once for all speak out, and let’s see which way the wind sits in that weathercock head of thine ?” “‘ Atonement to Richard Lawrence is out of the question—he will soon be beyond the reach of human retribution ; but he has a sister.”’ *‘ She will be taken care of.” ** How ?” “‘ T’ll send her out to my correspondent in Russia; he will soon provide for her as a governess, find her a husband, or something of that sort.” “ Does it not strike you that a husband might be found for her nearer home.” “ Whom ?”’ demanded Grindem, fixing his keen gray eye upon the speaker, with an expression which showed that he anticipated the reply; for Mr. Small’s hint upon the subject of his nephew and Richard Lawrence’s sister had not been thrown away upon him. ‘Your nephew, Mr. Henry Beacham,” old man, firmly. Although his employer half expected this reply, the hardihood of the proposition perfectly astounded him. replied the COniiclooecl SS (SO