The Freemason's Daughter: A Novel — page 52: what you’re looking at

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

THE FREEMASONS DAUGHTER. 43 . heavy upon his conscience—the expression of his coun- tenance at times is fearful.” Despite his habitude of self-command, Mr. Grindem started—eyed his nephew for a few moments suspi- ciously—hemmed, as if about to speak, then suddenly stopped, took up the letters lying upon the table, and began reading them earnestly. That morning the con- versation was pursued no further. The merchant during the remainder of the day maintained a moody silence. There was nothing positively unkind in his manner towards his nephew, but the young man felt instinctively that for the first time a cloud had passed between them. On Grindem’s arrival at the counting-house the fol- lowing morning, he was informed by his partner, Mr. Small, that intelligence had been brought from his lodgings that the old clerk, Gridley, who had indulged in more than his usual potations, had been seized the preceding night with a fit of delirium tremens. The eyes of the head of the firm flashed with an expression which his subordinate did not fail to notice. He was an observing man, the quiet Mr. Small. “I have already been down to his lodgings,” he added, trying to look unconcerned as he said so; “‘ but can make nothing of him.”’ ‘“< And what did you expect to make of him?” drily demanded his principal. ‘Oh, nothing—that is, I thought I might have been useful to him.” COniiclooecl SS (SO