pains to impress upon the boy's mind that _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