u
sought to confer a benefit you discover a spirit greater than all the
favors wealth ever gave, or ever will give! A noble nature, that soars
above every accident of fortune, provoking!"

"I spoke with reference to myself," replied Onslow, tartly; "and I
repeat, it is most provoking that I am unable to make a recompense where
I have unquestionably inflicted a wrong!"

"Rather thank God that in this age of money-seeking and gold-hunting
there lives one whose heart is uncorrupted and incorruptible," cried
Grouusell.

"If I had not seen it I could not have believed it!" said Prichard.

"Of course not, sir," chimed in Grounsell, bluntly. "Yours is not the
trade where such instances are frequently met with; nor have I met with
many myself!"

"I beg to observe," said Prichard, mildly, "that even in my career I
have encountered many acts of high generosity."

"Generosity! Yes, I know what that means. A sister who surrenders her
legacy to a spendthrift brother; a childless widow that denies herself
the humblest means of comfort to help the ruined brother of her lost
husband; a wife who places in a reckless husband's hand the last
little remnant of fortune that was hoarded against the day of utter
destitution; and they are always women who do these things, saving,
scraping, careful creatures, full of self-denial and small
economies. Not like your generous men, as the world calls them, whose
free-heartedness is nothing but selfishness, whose liberality is the
bait to catch flattery. But it is not of generosity I speak here. To
give, even to one's last farthing, is far easier than to refuse help
when you are needy. To draw the rags of poverty closer, to make their
folds drape decently, and hide the penury within, that is the victory,
indeed."

"Mark you," cried Onslow, laughing, "it is an old bachelor says all
this."

Grounsell's face became scarlet, and as suddenly pale as death; and
although he made an effort to speak, not a sound issued from his lips.
For an instant the pause which ensued was unbroken, when a tap was
heard at the door. It was a message from Lady Hester, requesting, if Sir
Stafford were disengaged, to be permitted to speak with him.

"You're not going, Grounsell?" cried Sir Stafford, as he saw the doctor
seize his hat; but he hastened out of the room without speaking, while
the lawyer, gathering up his papers, prepared to follow him.

"We shall see you at dinner, Prichard?" said Sir Stafford. "I ha