Now, Mary's
feeling and judgment in regard to _things_ being identical
with her father's, Turnbull, instructed by his greed, both
natural and acquired, argued thus--unconsciously almost, but not
the less argued--that what Mary valued so little, and he valued
so much, must, by necessary deduction, be more his than hers--and
_logically_ ought to be _legally_. So servants begin to
steal, arguing that such and such things are only lying about,
and nobody cares for them.
But Turnbull, knowing that, notwithstanding the reason on his
side, it was not safe to act on such a conclusion, had for some
time felt no little anxiety to secure himself from investigation
and possible disaster by the marriage of Mary to his son George.
Tom Helmer had now to learn that, by his father's will, made
doubtless under the influence of his mother, he was to have but a
small annuity so long as she lived. Upon this he determined
nevertheless to marry, confident in his literary faculty, which,
he never doubted, would soon raise it to a very sufficient
income. Nor did Mary attempt to dissuade him; for what could be
better for a disposition like his than care for the things of
this life, occasioned by the needs of others dependent upon him!
Besides, there seemed to be nothing else now possible for Letty.
So, in the early summer, they were married, no relative present
except Mrs.
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