Charles was a fine, noble-hearted boy; but Antoinette was a spoiled,
pert, selfish creature, and had but little control over her tempers,
that were by no means amiable. It was not long before the future
husband, so called, wisely determined that Miss Antoinette should
never be his wife, and he told his mother so in very plain language.
Mrs. Linden tried every art in her power to influence Charles, but
it was no use. He inherited too much truly noble blood from this
independent, right-thinking father.

At the age of twenty-one, he left his native place and entered into
business in a neighbouring city. His mother parted with him
reluctantly; but there were strong reasons why he should go, and she
did not feel that it would be right to oppose him.

About a year after his removal from P--to his new place of
residence, Charles Linden met Ellen Fleetwood. She had come recently
from one of the Eastern States, and resided in the family of a
distant relative. His first impressions were favourable--each
subsequent meeting confirmed them--and, length, he found himself
really attached to her. So little of his mother's peculiar spirit
had he imbibed, that it did not once occur to him to ask about her
family until he had made up his mind to offer himself in marriage.
Inquiry on this subject resulted in the discovery that Ellen's
parents were distinguished from the mass in no particular way. They
had married early, and her mother died early. Her father, whose very
existence seemed to have been wrapped up in that of his wife, went
away soon after her death, and never returned. It was believed by
his friends that he did not survive her long. Ellen was then five
years old. An aunt adopted her and raised her as her own child. A