“That is what I have determined to do,”
said Wright: “for I don’t think money
the first thing in the world; and I would sooner give
up my uncle Pearson’s legacy this minute than
break my word to any woman, much less to one that
I love, as I do Miss Banks, better now than ever.
I have just heard from the steward, who brought this
letter, how handsomely and prudently she has behaved
to other people, as well as to myself: by which
I can judge most safely. She has paid all the
debts that were justly due, and has sold even the
gig, which I know she wished to keep; but, seeing
that it was not suited to her present circumstances,
her good sense has got the better. Now, to my
mind, a prudent wife, even as to money matters, may
turn out a greater treasure to a man than what they
call a great fortune.”
With these sentiments Wright married Miss Banks, who
was indeed a very prudent, amiable girl. Goodenough
sneered at this match; and observed that he had always
foretold Wright would be taken in, sooner or later.
Goodenough was now in his thirty-second year, and as
he had always determined to marry precisely at this
age, he began to look about for a wife. He chose
a widow, said to be of a very close saving temper:
she was neither young, handsome, nor agreeable; but
then she was rich, and it was Goodenough’s notion
that the main chance should be first considered, in
matrimony as in every thing else. Now this notable
dame was precisely of his way of thinking; but she
had more shrewdness than her lover, and she overreached
him in the bargain: her fortune did not turn
out to be above one half of what report had represented
it; her temper was worse than even her enemies said
it was; and the time that was daily wasted in trifling
disputes between this well-matched pair was worth
more than all the petty savings made by her avaricious
habits.
Goodenough cursed himself ten times a day, during
the honey-moon; but as he did not like to let the
neighbours know how far he had been outwitted, he
held his tongue with the fortitude of a martyr; and
his partisans all commended him for making so prudent
a match. “Ah, ay,” said they, “there’s
Wright, who might have had this very woman, has gone
and married a girl without a shilling, with all his
prudence; and, as to Marvel, he will surely be bit.”
There they were mistaken. Marvel was a person
capable of learning from experience, and he never forgot
the lesson that he had received from the charming
Alicia. It seemed to have sobered him completely.
CHAPTER IV.
About this time, Mr. James Harrison, an eminent dyer,
uncle to Wright’s friend of that name at York,
came to settle near Clover-hill; and as Marvel was
always inclined to be hospitable, he assisted his new
neighbour with many of those little conveniences, which
money cannot always command at the moment they are
wanted. The dyer was grateful; and, in return
for Marvel’s civilities, let him into many of
Copyrights
Tales and Novels — Volume 02 from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.
