It is evident, from his present course, that he had
some inkling of the MODUS OPERANDI; but all his knowledge fell
short of that saving wisdom which would have defrauded the social
world of one of its moral earthquakes, and possibly deprived the
survivors of the present moral story--for moral it is, though our
hero is not exactly so.
It would be doing our subject and our theory equal injustice if we
were to suppose that he had any fixed purpose, known to himself,
when he borrowed the professional garment, and began to talk with
the worthy John Cross in the language of theology, and with the
tongue of a hypocrite. He designed to visit Charlemont--that was
all--as he had really been impressed by the commanding figure and
noble expression of beauty of that young damsel whom he had encountered
by the roadside. Even this impression, however, would have been
suffered to escape from his mind, had it not been so perfectly
convenient to revisit the spot, on his return to his usual place of
residence. During the summer, Charlemont and its rustic attractions
had been the frequent subject of a conversation, running into
discussion, between himself and the amiable old man, his uncle.
Pages:
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136