splendid than he had before led her guardian
to believe likely, and which were to
be secured to her use in the most unexceptionable
manner possible--the money being
placed in the hands of Gerard Douw himself.

I have no sentimental scenes to describe,
no cruelty of guardians, or magnanimity of
wards, or agonies of lovers. The record I
have to make is one of sordidness, levity,
and interest. In less than a week after
the first interview which we have just
described, the contract of marriage was
fulfilled, and Schalken saw the prize which
he would have risked anything to secure,
carried off triumphantly by his formidable
rival.

For two or three days he absented
himself from the school; he then returned
and worked, if with less cheerfulness, with
far more dogged resolution than before;
the dream of love had given place to that
of ambition.

Months passed away, and, contrary to
his expectation, and, indeed, to the direct
promise of the parties, Gerard Douw heard
nothing of his niece, or her worshipful
spouse. The interest of the money, which