invitation whom he wished to see there, and who had come whom he wished to
have stayed away. He was a well-favored man, somewhat past the middle age
of life, with regular features, and a good general appearance, but with one
of those unsettled, fluctuating countenances which are usually found in men
who, while affecting, perhaps, a show of independence, lack self-reliance,
fixed principles, or some other of the essential elements of character. And
such indeed was Mark Elwood, the reputedly wealthy merchant whom we have
thus introduced as one of the leading personages of our story. Though often
moved with kind and generous impulses, he yet was governed by no settled
principles of benevolence; though often shrewd and sagacious, he yet
possessed no true wisdom; and, though often bold and resolute in action, he
yet lacked the faith and firmness of true courage. In short, he might be
regarded as a fair representative of the numerous class we are daily
meeting with in life,--men who do many good things, but more questionable
ones; who undertake much, accomplish little; bustle, agitate, and thus
contrive to occupy the largest space in public attention; but who, when
sifted, are found, as Pope maliciously says of women, to

"have no character at all."

After pursuing his observations a while, with an air of disappointment or
indifference, Elwood was about to turn away, when his eye caught a glimpse
of an approaching group of guests, whose appearance at once lighted up his
countenance with a smile of satisfaction, and he half-ejaculated: "There
they come!--the solid men of Boston. The presence of these, with the others
who will all serve as trumpeters of the affair, will quell every suspicion
of my credit till some new strike shall place me beyond danger. Yes, just
as I calculated, the money spent will be the cunningest investment I have
made these six months. But who is that tagging along alone after the rest?"
he added, his countenance suddenly changing to a troubled look, and slowly,