The Freemason's Daughter: A Novel — page 47: what you’re looking at

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

38 THE FREEMASONS DAUGHTER. Rage, pride, disdain and avarice were struggling in his breast. °*Tis true he loved his nephew, not for his virtues or manly qualities, courage, and nice sense of honour—these were things he cared little about, for he could not appreciate them. He loved him as the step- ping-stone to his ambition. Like most parvenus, he had a slavish love of the aristocracy, and doubted not but Henry, backed by the immense fortune which it was in his power to leave him, would ally himself by marriage with one of those noble families who were the secret objects of his hatred and envy. “My nephew marry the daughter of Richard Lawrence!’ he slowly repeated; “sooner would I see him dead—the firm of Grindem in the bankrupt list.” ‘* Better there than in the assize calendar,”’ was the reply. Gilbert winced, but disdained to notice the retort. ‘“‘ And so this is the precious scheme you have con- cocted ? Fool! do you think me a child, to be terrified into my consent? What,” he added, “ have I toiled, sinned, reaped curses, read the sneers of the world behind its hollow smile, and heaped up wealth, to enrich a beggar’s brat ?”’ ‘‘ Better that than exposure.” “Scoundrel, I defy you! do your worst, I am rich —rich,” he added, striking his knuckles upon the desk before him, ‘‘ and will melt my last guinea ere I yield to such dictation—ere I consent to be made the COniiclooecl SS (SO