In addition, Sir Harry is suspected of gambling himself in the funds through the aid of agents; and a gentleman who resorts to such means to increase his fortune is a little apt to exaggerate his social advantages by way of a set-off to the humiliation." "And GENTLEMEN do really become stock-jobbers, father ?" "Anna, the world has undergone great changes in my time.

Ancient opinions have been shaken, and governments themselves are getting to be little better than political establishments to add facilities to the accumulation of money.

This is a subject, however, you cannot very well understand, nor do I pretend to be very profound in it myself." "But is Jack's father really so very, very rich ?" asked Anna, whose thoughts had been wandering from the thread of those pursued by her father.
"He is believed to be so." "And Jack is his heir." "Certainly--he has no other child; though it is not easy to say what so singular a being may do with his money." "I hope he will disinherit Jack!" "You surprise me, Anna! You, who are so mild and reasonable, to wish such a misfortune to befall our young friend John Goldencalf!" I gazed upward in astonishment at this extraordinary speech of Anna, and at the moment I would have given all my interest in the fortune in question to have seen her face (most of her body was out of the window, for I heard her again rustling the bush above my head), in order to judge of her motive by its expression; but an envious rose grew exactly in the only spot where it was possible to get a glimpse.
"Why do you wish so cruel a thing ?" resumed Dr.Etherington, a little earnestly.
"Because I hate stock-jobbing and its riches, father.

Were Jack poorer, it seems to me he would be better esteemed." As this was uttered the dear girl drew back, and I then perceived that I had mistaken her cheek for one of the largest and most blooming of the flowers.

Dr.Etherington laughed, and I distinctly heard him kiss the blushing face of his daughter.