16. CHAPTER XVI.
THE DENOUEMENT.
The presence of his nephew in his
house suggested to the rich old man an
expedient for endeavoring to prevent the
union of Edgar with Flora, the gardener's
daughter, and so he plainly gave his son
to understand that if he pursued his aftentions
to the lowly maiden, his cousin
should stand in his place. Thus it became
greatly for Master Frederick's interest to
have the little affair between his cousin
and Flora go on without interruption. In
the meanwhile, he did his best to ingratiate
himself with his fair cousin, who
was as indifferent to his tender looks and
tenderer expressions as if he were but a
speaking automaton. She had penetration
enough to see his shallowness of
mind and obliquity of heart: and, while
she endured his society, she felt a hearty
contempt for him.
So when he would now have consoled
her in her grief at Edgar's marriage, by
assuring her that he would himself build
up what family greatness his cousin had
thrown down, he was received with petulant
contempt and an expression of the
eye of the fair heiress anything but amiable
or loving.
`Do not vex me, sir; I am in no mood
to play with monkeys.' These were the
cutting words of her reply.
`Monkeys! Who calls monkeys,
eh?' called out her father.
`My very beautiful cousin, sir, is very
witty on me, uncle,' responded the
young man, immediately coloring to the
eyes and looking very much as if he
would like to strike her in the face; but
feeling that it would not be politic to
show his anger before an heiress, whose
haud he was aiming at, he laughed very
awkwardly indeed, but still it was a
laugh, and seemed to take the answer
very pleasantly.
The gone humor of the parties was not
reoovered that day, nor, indeed, for
many days afterwards, was there any
friendly intercourse between the cousins.
Master Frederick had wit enough to see
that he was heartily despised, greatly to
his amazement, by his cousin, and that it
was in vain for him to hope for more than
half of the fortune of his uncle; and this
half he felt himself very sure of becoming
heir to.
