t Algernon did his brother justice," said Elinor;
"but members of the same family are often blind to each other's merits.
Certainly the Squire is not the bad selfish man I took him for."

"He has behaved like an angel to us," returned the mother; "and I for my
part, prefer him to Algernon."

Elinor rejected this preference with disdain; but the old lady persisted
in maintaining her own opinion. Her daughter at last relinquished the
argument, by saying, "That the Squire, with his grave serious face, and
stiff polite manners, might suit the taste of a middle-aged woman; but
he never would win the regard of a young girl."

At first, Elinor had shunned the company of Mr. Hurdlestone, for his
presence recalled painful thoughts, and she was prejudiced against him
on his brother's account; but his attentions were so kind and
considerate, that, stern as he was, she began to entertain a better
opinion of him, and to think that perhaps Algernon, who was very
passionate, might have given him some provocation for the unjust
distribution of his father's property. His manners were austere, and
somewhat misanthropic, but his book-knowledge was extensive, and, though
naturally taciturn, he could, when he pleased, converse well upon any
subject. Free from the influence of malignant passions, he was a
sensible and interesting companion.

Elinor knew that the brothers had not parted friends, nor was she
ignorant of the cause of the quarrel; but she was willing to believe,
from what she heard and saw of Mark Hurdlestone, that he was less in
fault than he had been represented to her by Algernon; and the hope of
bringing about a reconciliation, and by so doing, shorten her lover's
period of exile, took a lively hold of her imagination.

The Squire was so plausible, that he found it an easy task to deceive a
girl as unsophisticated as Elinor Wildegrave, who was a perfect novice
in the ways of the world. She could not believe it possible that Mr.
Hurdlestone could stoop from his dignity to act a despicable part; that
deception could lurk beneath such a grave demeanor. Elinor was not the
first human being whose faith has been built on reeds.

When alone with Miss Wildegrave, Mark never failed to make his brother
the theme of conversation. He lamented, most feelingly, the unfortunate
difference which existed between them, which appeared the more
unnatural, considering that they were twins. He laid the fault of their
disunion entirely to th