Mark Hurdlestone | Page 4

poverty was the most
dreadful of all evils--that, if he wished to stand well with the world,
riches alone could effect that object, and ensure the respect and homage
of his fellow-men. "Wealth," he was wont jocosely to say, "would do
all but carry him to heaven,"--and how the journey thither was to be
accomplished, never disturbed the thoughts of the rich man.
Courted and flattered by those beneath him, Mark found his father's
precepts borne out by experience, and he quickly adopted his advice,
and entered with alacrity into all his money-getting speculations.

The handsome income allowed him by the Squire was never expended
in the pursuit of pleasures natural to his rank and age, but carefully
invested in the funds, whilst the young miser relied upon the generosity
of his mother to find him in clothes and pocket-money. When Mrs.
Hurdlestone remonstrated with him on his meanness, his father would
laugh and bid her hold her tongue.
"Let him alone, Lucy; the lad cannot help it; 'tis born in him. The
Hurdlestones are a money-making, money-loving race. Besides, what
does it matter? If he is saving a fortune at our expense, 'tis all in the
family. He knows how to take care of it better than we do. There will
be more for Algernon, you know!"
And this saying quieted the fond mother. "Yes," she repeated, "there
will be more for Algernon,--my handsome generous Algernon. Let his
sordid brother go on saving,--there will be more for Algernon."
These words, injudiciously spoken within the hearing of Mark
Hurdlestone, converted the small share of brotherly love, which
hitherto had existed between the brothers, into bitter hatred; and he
secretly settled in his own mind the distribution of his father's property.
And Algernon, the gay thoughtless favorite of his kind but imprudent
mother, was perfectly indifferent to the love or hatred of his elder
brother. He did not himself regard him with affection, and he expected
nothing from him, beyond the passive acquiescence in his welfare
which the ties of consanguinity generally give. If he did not seek in his
twin brother a friend and bosom-counsellor, he never imagined it
possible that he could act the part of an enemy. Possessing less talent
than Mark, he was generous, frank, and confiding. He loved society, in
which he was formed by nature to shine and become a general favorite.
His passion for amusement led him into extravagance and dissipation;
and it was apparent to all who knew him, best that he was more likely
to spend a fortune than acquire one.
Algernon had received, with his brother, a good classical education
from his uncle, a younger brother of his father's, who had been brought
up for the Church, and taken several degrees at Oxford, but had

reduced himself to comparative indigence by his imprudence and
extravagance. Alfred Hurdlestone would have made a good soldier, but,
unfortunately for him, there were several valuable church-livings in the
family; and his father refused to provide for him in any other way. The
young man's habits and inclinations being at war with the sacred
profession chosen for him, he declined entering upon holy orders,
which so enraged his father, that he forbade him the house; and at his
death, left him a small life-annuity, sufficient with economy to keep
him from starvation, but not enough to maintain him respectably
without some profession.
For several years, Alfred Hurdlestone depended upon the generosity of
a rich maternal uncle, who gave him the run of the house, and who left
him at his death a good legacy. This the ne'er-do-well soon ran through,
and finding himself in middle life, destitute of funds and friends, he
consented for a trifling salary to superintend the education of his
brother's children.
It was impossible for the Squire to have chosen a more injudicious
instructor for his sons--a man, who in not one instance of his life had
ever regulated his actions by the common rules of prudence. He
possessed talents without judgment, and was kind-hearted without
principle; and though a general favorite with all classes, was respected
by none. Having passed much of his time on the continent of Europe,
he had acquired an ease and courtesy of manner, which rendered him
quite an acquisition to the country drawing-room, where he settled all
matters of fashion and etiquette, to the general satisfaction of the ladies;
and in spite of his reduced circumstances and dependent situation, he
was warmly welcomed by all the mammas in the parish. They knew
him to be a confirmed old bachelor, and they trusted their daughters
with him without a thought that any mis-alliance could take place. Mr.
Alfred was such a dear, good, obliging creature! He talked French with
the girls, and examined the Latin exercises of the boys,