Sometimes he would utter the strangest things--such as
if all the old evil modes of thinking and feeling were in full
operation again; and sometimes for days Mary would not have an
idea what was going on in him. When suffering, he would
occasionally break into fierce and evil language, then be
suddenly silent. God and Satan were striving for the man, and
victory would be with him with whom the man should side.
For some time it remained doubtful whether this attack was not,
after all, going to be the last: the doctor himself was doubtful,
and, having no reason to think his death would be a great grief
in the house, did not hesitate much to express his doubt. And,
indeed, it caused no gloom. For there was little love in the
attentions the Mortimers paid him; and in what other hope could
Hesper have married, than that one day she would be free, with a
freedom informed with power, the power of money! But to the
mother's suggestions as to possible changes in the future, the
daughter never responded: she had no thought of plans in common
with her.
Strange rumors came abroad. Godfrey Wardour heard something of
them, and laughed them to scorn. There was a conspiracy in that
house to ruin the character of the loveliest woman in creation!
But when a week after week passed, and he heard nothing of or
from her, he became anxious, and at last lowered his pride so far
as to call on Mary, under the pretense of buying something in the
shop.
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