In Sir Howard's conduct Rosilia had perceived only the outward demonstrations of humanity; had it been possible for her to have penetrated the source, and to have seen revealed those vicious feelings which had induced the act she so much admired, how greatly would her sensitive nature have shuddered at the contemplation!
Those old people, it is true, had been servants of the late Sir Howard Sinclair; but those old people also had a grand-daughter, whom Sir Howard had taken into his service; she was of a simple rustic mien, but fair withal. The poor child was an orphan, and the old people had cherished the memory of her parents in the care they had bestowed upon her. Like the vulture, however, greedy of its innocent prey, Sir Howard by his arts stole from them this their only treasure, and to conceal from them the baseness of his despicable seduction, removed to a distance the deluded couple,—loaded them with his favours,—the wages of their child's prostitution. Of which being ignorant, they poured blessings upon him, whose bounties they would have spurned had they known the cause whence they had sprung,—would but have heaped upon them misery, and brought down their "grey hairs with sorrow to the grave"!
Thus it is that few can pass a definitive judgment upon the actions of their fellow-men, until by a clear relation of facts, and a complete development of cause and effect, are exhibited in their true colours the motives by which they are actuated.
