e, and the feeling, proud even in its
melancholy, with which he had drawn towards his breast all that earth
had left to him, and thanked God in his heart of hearts that she was
spared.

"And I am once more master," thought he, "not only of all I then held,
but of all which my wealthier forefathers possessed. But she who was the
sharer of my sorrows and want,--oh, where is she? Rather, ah, rather
a hundredfold that her hand was still clasped in mine, her spirit
supporting me through poverty and trial, and her soft voice murmuring
the comfort that steals away care, than to be thus heaped with wealth
and honour, and alone,--alone, where never more can come love or hope,
or the yearnings of affection or the sweet fulness of a heart that seems
fathomless in its tenderness, yet overflows! Had my lot, when she left
me, been still the steepings of bitterness, the stings of penury, the
moody silence of hope, the damp and chill of sunless and aidless years,
which rust the very iron of the soul away; had my lot been thus, as it
had been, I could have borne her death, I could have looked upon her
grave, and wept not,--nay, I could have comforted my own struggles with
the memory of her escape; but thus, at the very moment of prosperity, to
leave the altered and promising earth, 'to house with darkness and
with death;' no little gleam of sunshine, no brief recompense for the
agonizing past, no momentary respite between tears and the tomb. Oh,
Heaven! what--what avail is a wealth which comes too late, when she, who
could alone have made wealth bliss, is dust; and the light that should
have gilded many and happy days flings only a ghastly glare upon the
tomb?"

Starting from these reflections, Mordaunt half-unconsciously rose,
and dashing the tears from his eyes, was about to plunge into the
neighbouring thicket, when, looking up, he beheld Clarence, now within
a few paces of him. He started, and seemed for one moment irresolute
whether to meet or shun his advance, but probably deeming it too late
for the latter, he banished, by one of those violent efforts with which
men of proud and strong minds vanquish emotion, all outward sign of the
past agony; and hastening towards his guest, greeted him with a welcome
which, though from ordinary hosts it might have seemed cold, appeared
to Clarence, who knew his temper, more cordial than he had ventured to
anticipate.

CHAPTER LXI.

Mr father urged me sair,
But my mither didna