While their grandmother could only see Oliver on the best side, James
and Isabel could only see him on the worst, and lost the greatness of
the design in the mercenary habits that exclusive perseverance in it
had produced. It had been a false greatness, but they could not
grant the elevation of mind that had originally conceived it.

The following day was Sunday, and nothing worse took place than
little skirmishes, in which the uncle and nephew's retort and
rejoinder were so drolly similar, that Clara found herself thinking
of Miss Faithfull's two sandy cats over a mouse; but she kept her
simile to herself, finding that Isabel regarded the faintest,
gentlest comparison of the two gentlemen almost as an affront. All
actual debate was staved off by Mrs. Frost's entreaty that business
discussion should be deferred. 'Humph!' said Oliver, 'you reign
here, ma'am, but that's not the way we get on at Lima.'

'I dare say,' said James.

Mrs. Frost's joy was still undimmed. It was almost a trance of
gladness, trembling in her smile, and overflowing in her eye, at
every congratulation and squeeze of the hand from her friends.

'Dear Jemmy,' said she, taking his arm as they went home in the
evening, 'did not that psalm seem meant for us?--'If riches increase,
set not your heart upon them.''

James had been thinking it meant for some one; but, as he said,
'certainly not for you, dear granny.'

'Ah! snares of wealth were set far enough from me for a time! I