He would not slander her to himself by supposing that her attentions to his father were paid for his sake: but he could not forget that it was she, always, who read his letters aloud to the old man: or that she had taken home and copied out the story of his shipwreck.
Beside, it was the only method of explaining Mark's conduct, save on the supposition that he had suddenly been "changed by the fairies" in his old age, instead of in the cradle, as usual.
It was a terrible temptation; and to no man more than to Thomas Thurnall.

He was no boy, to hanker after mere animal beauty; he had no delicate visions or lofty aspirations; and he knew (no man better) the plain English of fifty thousand pounds, and Mark Armsworth's daughter--a good house, a good consulting practice (for he would take his M.D.

of course), a good station in the county, a good clarence with a good pair of horses, good plate, a good dinner with good company thereat; and, over and above all, his father to live with him; and with Mary, whom he loved as a daughter, in luxury and peace to his life's end .-- Why, it was all that he had ever dreamed of, three times more than he ever hoped to gain!--Not to mention (for how oddly little dreams of selfish pleasure slip in at such moments!)--that he would buy such a Ross's microscope! and keep such a horse for a sly by-day with the Whitford Priors! Oh, to see once again a fox break from Coldharbour gorse! And then rose up before his imagination those drooping steadfast eyes; and Grace Harvey, the suspected, the despised, seemed to look through and through his inmost soul, as through a home which belonged of right to her, and where no other woman must dwell, or could dwell; for she was there; and he knew it; and knew that, even if he never married till his dying day, he should sell his soul by marrying any one but her.

"And why should I not sell my soul ?" asked he, almost fiercely.

"I sell my talents, my time, my strength; I'd sell my life to-morrow, and go to be shot for a shilling a day, if it would make the old man comfortable for life; and why not my soul too?
Don't that belong to me as much as any other part of me?
Why am I to be condemned to sacrifice my prospects in life to a girl of whose honesty I am not even sure?
What is this intolerable fascination?
Witch! I almost believe in mesmerism now!-- Again, I say, why should I not sell my soul, as I'd sell my coat, if the bargain's but a good one ?" And if he did, who would ever know ?--Not even Grace herself.