The action seemed as expressively as words to say:
"Poor fellow! it must go hard indeed with me before I can make up my mind to part with you; in your eye, at least, is none of the suspicion and distrust I plainly perceive in every other." And softened by this touch of nature, and remembering the attachment to his sister--sincere he believed at the time, which like a fair flower amongst noxious plants had shewn his nature to be so capable of better things--a feeling of regret was excited in Arthur Seaham's mind that that "root of all evil," the promoter of "every foolish and hurtful lust--the love of money," should ever have struck its baneful fibres in this man's heart.
Eugene Trevor had demanded a personal interview with his brother previous to his departure for London, through the lawyer who for many years had been the legal adviser of the family, and whom he still retained on his own account. Eustace Trevor had deemed it expedient to call in another man of business for himself. This person was now at Silverton, with some of the necessary documents connected with the property now devolving upon him; and Mr. de Burgh proposed the meeting of the brothers should take place there.
It was with perfect unconsciousness of what awaited her, that Mary Seaham entered the library some few minutes after, in order to bid adieu to her cousins, who, she had been told, were awaiting her there.
She had closed the door behind her before perceiving her mistake, and stood rooted to the spot with feelings the nature of which may be better imagined than described, at finding herself at this critical moment in the presence of the brothers--those two beings with whom her fate had been so strangely, so intricately involved.
Yes, there stood the one, with look and bearing almost like that said to have distinguished man before the Fall:
"Erect and tall--Godlike erect, with native honour clad, Within whose looks divine the image of the glorious Maker shone, Truth, wisdom, sanctitude, severe and pure.
Irradiated with that attribute of God himself--a free and full forgiveness of an enemy.
And the other--with whom might his aspect at that moment suggest comparison? Alas! we fear but to
"That least erected spirit that fell From Heaven; whose looks and thoughts even in Heaven Were always downwards bent, admiring more The riches of Heaven's pavement trodden gold, Than aught divine or holy there."