"He has behaved like an angel to us," returned the mother; "and I for my
part, prefer him to Algernon."

Elinor rejected this preference with disdain; but the old lady persisted
in maintaining her own opinion. Her daughter at last relinquished the
argument, by saying, "That the Squire, with his grave serious face, and
stiff polite manners, might suit the taste of a middle-aged woman; but
he never would win the regard of a young girl."

At first, Elinor had shunned the company of Mr. Hurdlestone, for his
presence recalled painful thoughts, and she was prejudiced against him
on his brother's account; but his attentions were so kind and
considerate, that, stern as he was, she began to entertain a better
opinion of him, and to think that perhaps Algernon, who was very
passionate, might have given him some provocation for the unjust
distribution of his father's property. His manners were austere, and
somewhat misanthropic, but his book-knowledge was extensive, and, though
naturally taciturn, he could, when he pleased, converse well upon any
subject. Free from the influence of malignant passions, he was a
sensible and interesting companion.

Elinor knew that the brothers had not parted friends, nor was she
ignorant of the cause of the quarrel; but she was willing to believe,
from what she heard and saw of Mark Hurdlestone, that he was less in
fault than he had been represented to her by Algernon; and the hope of
bringing about a reconciliation, and by so doing, shorten her lover's
period of exile, took a lively hold of her imagination.

The Squire was so plausible, that he found it an easy task to deceive a