On these two themes his every thought was fixed; and however closely
the miser's nature had twined itself around his own, all the thirst for
gain, all the greed of usury, gave way before these master-passions.
So much was he under their guidance that no prospect of advantage ever
withdrew him from their prosecution; and he who looked for the Grinder's
aid, must at least have appeared to him as likely to contribute towards
one or other of these objects.

Strange as it may seem to our modern notions, the political ambition
seemed easier of success than the social. With all their moneyed
embarrassments, the higher classes of Ireland refused to stoop to an
alliance with the families of the rich plebeians, and were much more
ready to tamper with their conscience on questions of state, than to
abate a particle of their pride on a matter of family connection. In
this way, Mr. Fagan could command many votes in the House from those who
would have indignantly refused his invitation to a dinner.

In pursuit of this plan, he had given his daughter the best education
that money could command. She had masters in every modern language, and
in every fashionable accomplishment. She was naturally clever and quick
of apprehension, and possessed considerable advantages in person and
deportment. Perhaps an overweening sense of her own importance, in
comparison with those about her, imparted a degree of assumption to her
manner, or perhaps this was instilled into her as a suitable lesson for
some future position; but so was it, that much of the gracefulness of
her youth was impaired by this fault, which gradually settled down into
an almost stern and defiant hardiness of deportment,--a quality little
likely to be popular in high society.

A false position invariably engenders a false manner, and hers was
eminently so. Immeasurably above those with whom she associated, she saw
a great gulf between her and that set with whose habits and instincts
she had been trained to assimilate. To condescend to intimacy with her
father's guests, was to undo all the teachings of her life; and yet
how barren seemed every hope of ascending to anything higher! No young
proprietor had attained his majority for some years back, without being
canvassed by the Grinder as a possible match for his daughter. He
well knew the pecuniary circumstances of them all. To some he had
lent largely; and yet somehow, although his emissaries were active in
spreading the int