A long time passed ere his activity of mind returned. While he sat,
brooding--dreamily--over what had just passed, a little daughter came
into the parlour, and seeing him, came prattling merrily to his
side. But in attempting to clamber upon his knee, she was pushed away
rudely, and with angry words. For a few moments she stood looking at
him, her little breast rising and falling rapidly; then she turned
off, and went slowly, and with a grieving heart, from the room.
Jasper sighed heavily as the child passed out of sight; and rising up,
began moving about with a slow pace, his eyes cast upon the floor.
The more he dwelt upon the visit of Martin--whom, in his heart, he had
wished dead--the more uneasy he felt, and the more he regretted having
let him depart in anger. He would give twice ten thousand dollars
rather than meet the exposure which this man could make.
Riches was the god of Leonard Jasper. Alas! how little power was there
in riches to make his heart happy. Wealth beyond what he had hoped to
obtain in a whole lifetime of devotion to mammon, had flowed in upon
him in two or three short years. But, was he a happier man? Did he
enjoy life with a keener zest? Was his sleep sweeter? Ah, no! In all
that went to make up the true pleasure of life, the humble clerk,
driven to prolonged hours of labour, beyond what his strength could
well bear, through his ill-nature and injustice, was far the richer
man.
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