Turnbull, and the tiresome
attentions of George! Would Mr. Wardour lend her the book? Had he
other books as good? Were there many books to make one's heart go
as that one did? She would save every penny to buy such books, if
indeed such treasures were within her reach! Under the
enchantment of her first literary joy, she walked home like one
intoxicated with opium--a being possessed for the time with the
awful imagination of a grander soul, and reveling in the presence
of her loftier kin.
CHAPTER IV.
GODFREY WARDOUR.
The property of which Thornwick once formed a part was then large
and important; but it had, by not very slow degrees, generation
following generation of unthrift, dwindled and shrunk and
shriveled, until at last it threatened to disappear from the
family altogether, like a spark upon burnt paper. Then came one
into possession who had some element of salvation in him;
Godfrey's father not only held the poor remnant together, but,
unable to add to it, improved it so greatly that at length, in
the midst of the large properties around, it resembled the
diamond that hearts a disk of inferior stones. Doubtless, could
he have used his wife's money, he would have spent it on land;
but it was under trustees for herself and her children, and
indeed would not have gone far in the purchase of English soil.
Considerably advanced in years before he thought of marrying, he
died while Godfrey, whom he intended bringing up to a profession,
was yet a child; and his widow, carrying out his intention, had
educated the boy with a view to the law.
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