this delicate little lady, accustomed to such a different style of man in the civic circle in which she had hitherto moved.
She hovered about him, was always calling at Cricklewood, would even stay there, to Mrs Huntington's great annoyance. For the latter, poor soul, was the first to learn that it was not all gold that glitters. She, the faithful wife for more than thirty years, the partner of her husband's trials, spiritual and temporal, the woman whom neither peevishness nor poverty could alienate, who had followed her master through all his manifold changes, strange and alarming as they must sometimes have appeared to her, had fallen the first victim to his prosperity.
Accustomed for long years to semi-starvation, the child probably of generations similarly starved, this unwonted plenty was too much for her—in fact, killed her. Still worse, her last days were saddened by this shadow of Lady Sanderson passing between her and her husband. Possibly that lady's business ability was of some use at Cricklewood House. At any rate her influence at last grew so great that in his preaching tours through the country Mr Huntington consented to travel about in her carriage. Of course this gave rise to much scandal, but he was too blind to perceive it, and if he had done so, would probably have felt a secret pleasure in setting the world at defiance.
His friends longed to warn him, but dared not. At last Brook came, saw the state of things, and with his usual courage and conscientiousness took the task on himself.
"Sir," said he, "you are surrounded with hypocrites, who are doing you injury; why encourage their company?"
"If," replied Huntington, God has given you. Brook, discernment to see it, He has not shown it to me."
"Then," said Brook, "the time will come when you will assuredly find it so."
A second time and a third time he warned him, but only succeeded at last in thoroughly enraging him. Huntington told his friends that Brook was a hypocrite, and so turned his back on the most faithful friend he had.
It does not appear that Huntington at this time entertained any idea of marriage, but a year after (August 15, 1808) Lady Sanderson became his wife.
