The Freemason's Daughter: A Novel — page 218: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE FREEMASONS DAUGHTER. 211 “It’s only the first sympton of the fever,” quietly chuckled his partner ; “ it will soon be at raging heat. Then will be the sport. I do long to see that.” “What does it all mean, father?” demanded Mark and John, who were not as deep in their parent’s con- fidence as Matthew. “Nothing, boys, nothing; only for the future you need not be quite so respectful to Mr. Gilbert Grindem ; maintain your dignity and independence, as J have always done! If he is insolent, give him as good as he sends; the tables are turned at last.” The boys, as their affectionate father familiarly called them, grinned with delight at the recommendation of their parent. They felt that the tables must indeed be turned before he would venture on such advice ; for he had hitherto trained them in slavish obsequiousness to the wealthy and much-dreaded head of the firm. It was half-past eleven before Gilbert Grindem abandoned the hope of meeting Flin, and obtaining the papers; and he slowly left the place of rendezvous, ready to gnaw his heart with rage, fear, and disap- pointment. | His punishment, after so many years of successful rapacity and villany, had fallen lke a thunder-clap upon him ; and he began to entertain a vague suspicion that there really was a Providence which, sooner or later, even in this world, commends. “ The ingredients of the poisoned chalice To our own lips ;”’ p2 COUN Goo! SS (SO